New York Yankees’ Top Catching Prospect Ready for Opening Day? Austin Wells Faces Jose Trevino for Starting Role

All is “Wells” and good in The Bronx clubhouse. At least that has been the case for the New York Yankees throughout this Spring Training. With nearly the whole lineup set, the only mystery lies in the Catcher role. While Jose Trevino is finally available for selection, rookie Austin Wells’ explosive Spring Training has created great competition within the roster. And that is a big headache for Aaron Boone. 

Wells was perhaps one of the only bright spots for the Yankees last season. However, when the offseason began it was expected that the Yankees would go easy with him. After all, Wells is still just a rookie and needs time to develop. However, the man with a beautiful mustache had other things in his mind. Game after game, Wells has been dominating the plate. With opening day right around the corner, the rookie has staked a massive claim over his place in the squad.

The Yankees faced off against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. While the team lost the game 2-5, there were many positive signs for the Pinstripes. The first one was Nestor Cortes throwing 75 pitches. This is a nice development for a pitcher who is ready to start on opening day. However, the real story came from Wells. The slugger went 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI single, and a walk. 

According to Baseball-Reference, Wells is slashing .344/.417/.656/1.073 this Spring. For a rookie, these are incredible numbers. However, as New York Post’s Greg Joyce reported “Aaron Boone was noncommittal on whether the left-handed hitting Wells will also get that start (on opening day with Cortes).” 

So why is it that the skipper is still a little unsure about his rookie? The answer lies in Jose Trevino’s experience and history with Nestor Cortes. That could prove to be the deciding factor in this race for the opening-day nod.

Experience to triumph over explosiveness for the Yankees? 

The veteran Trevino’s impact on the Yankees’ team cannot be understated. Apart from an injury-filled 2023, he has been the backbone of this squad. More importantly, the Bronx Bombers need the experience of Trevino to calm their pitching staff. Then there’s the fact that since May 2022, Trevino has generally been the go-to catcher for Cortes. So there’s a big chance that the two will look to continue that relationship in 2024 too.

However, the interesting point in all of this was that Wells caught Cortes in the last game. So is there a new connection forming here? The fact is that even if Wells doesn’t get the opening-day nod, he’s set to get many opportunities this season. With the rookie firmly establishing himself as the no.2 catcher in the Yankees’ lineup, things are certainly looking Well for Austin Wells.

Read more: Giancarlo Stanton’s Resurgence Continues, New York Yankees’ Star Slugger Heats Up as Opening Day Nears