The New York Yankees will open the Wild Card Sequence towards the Boston Pink Sox on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. When the primary pitch arrives, Austin Wells might be behind the plate.
That was not a certainty 4 months in the past. For an extended stretch of this season, the Yankees’ beginning catcher regarded like one of many least productive hitters within the sport.
Now he enters October as one of many steadiest bats within the lineup. The turnaround has been one of many quieter tales of the second half.
How Dangerous It Obtained
The numbers from the primary 4 months have been laborious to disregard. From Opening Day by means of August 2, Wells owned a .161 batting common and a .537 OPS. Amongst certified hitters with the same variety of plate appearances, no one posted a worse line.
Wells’ bat had gone chilly early and saved falling. By the top of June his common had cratered to .155, down from .200 on the finish of April.
The query was whether or not the Yankees would commerce for a catcher on the deadline. Different golf equipment invested closely on the place, however the Yankees held agency.
What Modified for the Yankees Catcher
A mid-season journey to the injured checklist for headache points gave Wells time away from the grind. He retooled his swing mechanics through the downtime, specializing in getting the ball within the air extra constantly.
The outcomes confirmed instantly. Over the 15 video games earlier than the commerce deadline, Wells posted an .886 OPS with three residence runs, seven walks, and simply eight strikeouts. The bat that had disappeared for months got here again with higher self-discipline and extra authority.
Since August 3, he has caught extra innings than any backstop within the sport, beginning 42 of 47 video games. His OPS over that stretch sits at .785. The Yankees’ choice to cross on buying a catcher on the deadline appears to be like justified.
Supervisor Aaron Boone has observed the distinction.
“You are feeling like he’s that risk once more down there,” Boone stated. “And that’s huge.”
Prepared for October
Wells is not any stranger to the postseason. He began 12 of 14 video games through the Yankees’ 2024 playoff run that ended with a World Sequence loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was behind the plate for each sport of final yr’s postseason.
Ali Sánchez is the backup, however barring one thing surprising, the job belongs to Wells from Tuesday by means of nonetheless lengthy the run lasts.
Wells made clear that’s precisely how he needs it.
“That is the place I need to be,” Wells stated.
Remaining Phrase for the Yankees
Austin Wells spent the primary 4 months of this season trying like a participant the Yankees wanted to exchange. As an alternative, the membership caught with him, and he rewarded that religion with the most effective stretch of his profession.
The .161 common is a distant reminiscence now. The .785 OPS because the deadline is what the Yankees are carrying into October. Wells will possible be behind the plate Tuesday when the Wild Card Sequence begins, the identical spot he has earned by turning his season round on the proper time.
The postseason grind begins in two days. Wells is prepared for it.
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