Yankees sign 2020 first-round selection C Austin Wells

The Yankees have signed their first-round pick (28th overall) C Austin Wells out of the University of Arizona.

Wells, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound catcher, hit .357/.476/.560 (99-for-277) with 85R, 21 doubles, 7 triples, 7HR, 74RBI and 63BB in 71 games over two seasons at the University of Arizona. During his pandemic-shortened sophomore year campaign, the Las Vegas, Nev., native hit .375/.527/.589 (21-for-56) with 12R, 6 doubles, 2HR, 14RBI and 17BB in 15 games and was tabbed a Second Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball. He was also named to the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award watch list in 2020. In 2019, he was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

Entering the 2020 draft, the 20-year-old was ranked as the No. 21 overall draft prospect by Baseball America and the No. 27 prospect by MLB Pipeline.