Austin Wells, the New York Yankees’ Opening Day catcher, has struggled at the plate, posting a low batting average in his first 43 plate appearances. Consequently, he has ceded time to fellow catcher Jose Trevino.
Despite his poor start offensively, Wells has exhibited a solid eye at the plate, drawing eight walks with only seven strikeouts. He ranks 36th in the majors in barrels per plate appearance, indicating he is making solid contact. Statcast projects Wells as having a much better batting line based on his batted ball metrics.
While Wells’ offense has faltered, his defense has remained strong. Pitchers have a lower ERA when he is behind the plate, and he is in the 90th percentile at framing pitches. The Yankees are confident in Wells’ ability to turn his season around, based on his underlying metrics and strong defensive performance.
