Yankees Skipper Aaron Boone Praises Austin Wells, Sets High Expectations as Youngster Aims for Excellence

One of the positive aspects of 2023 for the New York Yankees was the emergence of their top prospects. Though they didn’t quite live up to the hype, the surrounding circumstances made it quite complicated. Still, two players in particular gave a solid glimpse of their high potential – Jasson Dominguez and Austin Wells. Now, the Yankees Skipper Aaron Boone has singled out Wells for some very high praises.

Debuting in September, the 24-year-old catcher quickly assimilated into the major leagues. As a result, hopes emerged that Wells’ position in the squad could become harder by 2024. With Boone showing appreciation for the catcher, have the Yankees found their long-term catcher?

Could Austin Wells take the New York Yankees to a brand new era?

Austin Wells came in as a breath of fresh air during the arduous 2023 season of the Yankees. While initially the slugger struggled, things started going remarkably well for him by the end of the season. Wells slashed .229/.257/.486/.743 in 19 games. More importantly, he went 8-for-20 with three homers in his last five games. All of this had led to the 24-year-old getting high praise from Aaron Boone.

During his recent media talks, the Yankees skipper noted that Wells had continued to “make really good strides this winter to put himself in a position to compete for [a roster spot].” Boone further added that last season’s experience helped in the growth of the young prospect. Could these comments lead to Wells creating history for the Yankees?

As top insider Jon Morosi said, Austin Wells could join Thurman Manson as the only rookie in 75 years to play at least 70+ as a catcher for the Yankees. With Aaron Boone stating that Wells is competing hard for the roster spot, there’s certainly a big chance for the rookie to leave his mark in the Pinstripes.

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However, the journey won’t be easy for the 24-year-old, as the Yankees enjoy great depth in the Catcher department.

The growing catcher depth of the Pinstripes

Aaron Boone is reportedly content with the catching depth that the Yankees possess. With Ben Rortvedt and Jose Trevino as competition, Austin Wells has a challenging road ahead. Among these three capable catchers, the Bombers might prefer only two. While that could be a troubling sign for the rookie, these comments from Boone do raise some hopes for him. 

Even if the Yankees decide to take things slow with Wells, it’s undeniable that the management rates the rookie positively. So it won’t be surprising if eventually, one finds Wells, a firm part of the starting squad of the Bombers.

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