Austin Wells

New York Yankees News/Rumors: Catcher Austin Wells, pitcher Luis Severino and more

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New York Yankees, Austin Wells

The New York Yankees catching prospect Austin Wells has already gained the attention of the Yankees front office and manager Aaron Boone.  Of the Yankees system, Austin Wells has really performed well, and scouts have noticed. As Gary Sanchez, Kyle Higashioka, and the other experienced catchers in Yankees camp this spring get their work in; a new left-handed bat has stood out before appearing in a single professional game.

Catcher Austin Wells, the Yankees’ first-round pick last summer, has shown off some considerable power during batting practice. “He can hit,’’ Aaron Boone said Saturday after pitchers and catchers worked out at the team’s minor league complex. It’s not a surprise since Wells’ bat is what made the Yankees take him with the 28th-overall pick out of the University of Arizona two years after they selected him in the 35th round out of high school.

“I really like his swing,’’ Boone said. “One of the things that stands out to me, that I didn’t necessarily know, is how strong he is. He’s as strong as anyone in camp, especially when you test him.” The Yankees will be watching as spring training progresses. however it is very unlikely that Wells will may his debut this season.

Wells good hitting reports bodes well for the Yankees as home run hitter Gary Sanchez has had his contact hitting challenges in the last few years. Sanchez’s backup in Kyle Higashioka has been considerably better but he is also not the greatest hitter although his 2020 performance was the best of his career. The recent acquisition of Robinson Chirinos also doesn’t improve the hitting at backstop.

Luis Seveino progressing better than thought

Yankee Pitcher Luis Severino was expected back from his Tommy John surgery in late August, but now that seems concseverative. Severino had Tommy John surgery before the 2019 season February and a setback made it impossible for the pitching star to pitch at all in the remainder of 2019 and at all during the New York Yankees 2020 season.

Now that spring training is going into it second week or workouts Bryan Hoch MLB insider has reported that Luis Severino was tossing at 120 feet. And manager Aaron Boone knows that first hand as the manager actually caught the former Yankees star recently. Boone said he was as strong as anybody in the bullpen and would likely throw from the mound in the next week or two.

Domingo German was expected to take his spot in the rotation at least until after the All-Star break. The good news out of spring training is that Severino could now back in the rotation as early mid or late June, possibly even earlier. This is exceptional news for the Yankees as they try to control the inning thrown by all their starting pitchers in a year that will see 102 more games than any of them have thrown in 2020. The most innings thrown by any Yankees pitcher last season was Gerrit Cole’s 91 innings. Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon only threw one inning between the two.

Gio Urshela will be ready on opening day

It’s not secret that the New York Yankees have had severe injury problems during the last two seasons with multiple players on the IL on multiple occasions. Last season during spring training several players were not expected to be ready for the opening day. They included Luis Severino coming back from Tommy John surgery, James Paxton coming back from back surgery, Aaron Boone from a fractured rib and Gary Sanchez with back ailments. This year is a lot better at this point.

Luis Severino is not expected to come back to the team earlier than expected, Luke Vioits foot problem seems to be in the rear view mirror and Gio Urshela bone spur surgically removed will reportedly be ready for opening day. Urshela had bone spir problem late last season but thought it was under control. But after it flarled back up in Columbia in the offseason the surgery was delayed until December by the coronavirus.

Urshela is now at the spring training complex in Tampa Florida and reports are that he is doing well. Although that being the case the Yankees will take it easy with Urshela and may not play him in some of the first Yankee exhibition games, but he will be ready for opening day at Yankee Stadium.

“He’s doing well,” Boone said of Urshela. He’s getting real close. I think you guys saw him throwing across the diamond today. He’s been doing that about a week now. I think backed up a little bit so the throws got a little bit longer. He’s doing really well. Feel like he’s close. Whether we start him in the early games here in spring remains to be seen.”

EmpireSportsMedia.com’s Columnist William Parlee is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research. Follow him on Twitter @parleewilliam.

Austin Wells is “pumped” to be with the New York Yankees

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New York Yankees, Austin Wells

The New York Yankees‘ first round draft selection already put pen to paper on a long-term deal with the team. The catcher, best known for his offensive prowess, is eager to start his career with the organization that already drafted him once a couple of years ago.

The slugging backstop thinks that it is only a matter of time before he is hitting drives to Yankee Stadium‘s gaps and over the outfield walls.

The deal, worth $2.5 million, was slightly above slot value for the 28th pick, which is $2,493,900.

“The Yankees and I always had a very good relationship, and leading up to [this year’s Draft], we had a lot of great conversations,” Wells said. “Going throughout that day, I had a good range of where I felt was going in the back half of that first round. I’m super pumped that it was the Yankees, because of how great our relationship had been before.”

Following Yankees’ rules, he said goodbye to his beard

The young prospect knows that he is about to enter an adjustment period when it comes to the level of his competition. He also followed the organization’s rules of facial hair, shaving the beard he wore in his Arizona days.

“It’s definitely going to be an adjustment, having had it for the last two years,” Wells said. “But in high school, I had to shave it as well, so it won’t be that big of an adjustment.”

Wells was ranked number 27 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 200 Draft Prospects list, so the Yankees took him right about where he was expected to go in this month’s draft.

The catcher was tearing up the competition until the coronavirus pandemic halted things, with a .375/.527/.589 slash line, 12 runs scored, six doubles, two homers and 14 RBIs in 15 games as a sophomore for the Wildcats. He had more walks (17) than strikeouts (14.)

The New York Yankees’ vice president of domestic amateur scouting Damon Oppenheimer had nothing but praise for Wells.

“He’s a good athlete and has performed at an elite level, with a really tremendous work ethic and makeup. We think he can be an impactful guy, especially in our stadium. He’s a mentally strong kid. I think the weight of the pinstripes aren’t going to really affect him like some others,” he said.

New York Yankees News 6/26: Yankees Mum on Judge, Yankees sign Wells, all the news here

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New York Yankees strangely mum on Judge

Near the end of the New York Yankees 2019 season, Aaron Judge made a fantastic diving catch.  Although not known at the time, he fractured a rib.  Judge recalled that he felt something at the time, but continued to play.  During the offseason, he continued to feel pain in his shoulder.  Upon arriving at spring training, he reported the pain and trainers put him on a two-week hold.

When his pain did not get better, he underwent multiple tests, and eventually, an MRI that discovered the pain in the shoulder was sympathetic, the actual injury was a fractured rib.  They also found that he had had a collapsed lung with has since resolved itself.  However, through all of this, Judge still has not swung a bat. Initially, Manager Aaron Boone said that he believed that Judge would be ready to play when the season started.  Later he said June or July.

With the injury, Judge remained at the George M. Steinbrenner complex at Tampa, Florida, for treatment and rehab.  But since the time spring training was canceled, little information has been forthcoming.  At one point hitting coach, Marcus Thames stated that his rehab was progressing but that he had not swung a bat.  Since that statement, the Yankees have been mum on Judge’s rehab, which might indicate that  Judge will not be ready at the July 23 start of the season.

Yankees sign drafted Austin Wells

The New York Yankees used their first draft pick to draft Austin Wells. The pick of Austin Wells probably shouldn’t have been a surprise because the Yankees went after him in the draft three years ago when he was at Las Vegas High School.  Wells chose college instead and enrolled at the University of Arizona, where he has honed his skills and has proven to be a powerful left-hand hitter.  This could be a huge win for the Yankees because if he doesn’t work out as a catcher, he also has played in the outfield and at first base, keeping his bat in the lineup.

With his plate discipline and left-hand power, it is very possible that Wells may be on the superhighway to the majors. The Yankees have until August 1 to sign him. Wells is 6′ 2″ 220 pounds, is a 20-year-old star. It has been said that Austin Wells plays with the same intensity as Bryce Harper, who was out of the same Las Vegas high school. The Yankees may have Wells on that superhighway to the majors as they didn’t wait until August to sign Wells, they signed him to a contract yesterday. According to the YES Network, he got a $2.5 million signing bonus.

Matt Blake’s Job just got more difficult

When pitching coach Matt Blake became the new New York Yankee pitching coach he knew he would have a challenging job. But there have been some changes since then; one included the signing of pitching ace Gerrit Cole which was a good match for Blake as they are both analytically inclined.  However, the other change Blake could never have expected. The shutdown of spring training and the coronavirus.

It usually takes six weeks to ramp up pitchers, but even then, they do not have the full-arm strength to go deep into games. Faced with pitchers being separated from the game for over three months, Blake has just three weeks to get pitchers ready.  He has to balance ramping them up while at the same time protecting them from injury.

Another issue concerning Blake is that many of his pitchers believe they are ready because they have continued to throw during their time off.  The fact is that they aren’t ready. Throwing at home in the back yard or at a variety of facilities is not the same as throwing under stress or during games.  With the loss of ace, Luis Severino to Tommy John surgery Blake and manager Boone will have to watch Jordan Montgomery and Jonathan Loaisiga closely to determine who will fill that fifth vacant spot in the rotation. Presently Montgomery seems to be the favorite.

The Yankees have outfield options

The New York Yankees depth in the outfield will be a factor this year as it was last season.  The one position they most likely will not have to worry about is that Aaron Hicks returning from Tommy John surgery, with the season delay will now be ready to play in center field.  They have a very big plus in the durable Brett Gardner as Hick’s backup.

The right field will cause the biggest question with the unknown status of Aaron Judge, who is expected to man the position.  If he can’t at the start, the Yankees have Clint Frazier and Mike Tauchman, who have varying experience manning right field.  Last year they had the veteran Cameron Maybin who is now with the Rangers organization.  Mike Tauchman has nothing to prove, but Clint Frazier does, as it may be his last chance to show the Yankees he can be a capable defender.

With the Yankees strong bench, they have the most options in left field. Giancarlo Stanton will be the starting left fielder, but they will also want to use him frequently as the DH.  As it looks now, they will alternate DH and left-field play with Stanton and Miguel Andujar.  With no place to put “Miggy” and having him get some experience during spring training in left, they will want to keep his bat in the lineup. If needed, they also can use Mike Tauchman in left, as well as super-utility player Tyler Wade.

A new year and a way different baseball game

New York Yankee players and fans will experience a very different baseball game this year.  The coronavirus will have an immense effect on the season, even if it can be completed. There will be a real different feel for the players as they will lose the energy of having cheering fans in the stands.  They will have the stress of playing while hoping not to carry the coronavirus home to their families. Some players have indicated that they will, for the most part, stay away from their families during the shortened 60 day season.

Some of the other changes will be playing teams that are not that familiar with like the Philadelphia Phillies, the World Champion Washington Nationals, the Marlins, and the cross-town New York Mets.  There will be a universal DH and an expanded postseason.  Games that go beyond nine innings will have a man on second to start the tenth inning. There will be a 30 man roster from the start of the season. There are sure to be more details to be released in the coming days, so stay with EmpireSportsMedia.com for all the latest developments.

New York Yankees scout compares Austin Wells to six-time All-Star Joe Mauer

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New York Yankees, Austin Wells

In a perfect world, New York Yankees‘ first-round pick Austin Wells would hit .365 with 28 homers at the top level of Major League Baseball.

Wells, who grew up a Red Sox fan, would be forgiven for eternity if he could develop into what one scout believes equates to Joe Mauer, six-time All-Star catcher and first baseman.

In an interview with YES Network’s Jack Curry, Yankees’ top scout Damon Oppenheimer compared Wells’ skill-set to a variety of different players at the major-league level. However, one stood out, which was Mauer.

The 2009 American League MVP recorded a .365 batting average with 28 home runs during the 2009 season. His efficiency at the plate and defensive quality made him one of the best players at the time, prior to his retirement in 2018.

“I wish I could say yes, that there’s an exact player that he reminds me of. But it’s a little difficult because I’ve seen some Joe Mauer in this guy’s swing. I’ve seen some of that kind of pop at times. Just to say, ‘Yeah, he totally reminds me of somebody.’ I can’t really say that. That’s the swing he reminds me of a little bit sometimes of Joe.

He played all 15 years of his MLB career with the Minnesota Twins, compiling a .306 average at the plate, 143 home runs, 923 RBIs, over 6930 at-bats.

The New York Yankees might have landed a stud lefty in Austin Wells:

Wells, who was drafted with the 28th overall selection in the most recent MLB Draft, was projected as a catcher coming out of the University of Arizona. However, his skills-set could fit more efficiently in the outfield. His lackluster arm from behind the plate and average defensive traits make him a prime candidate to swap positions and land in a spot like left field.

Of course, this would require him to completely adapt to a new position, but he has the ability to make the transition smoothly. Wells is the type of player who could develop quickly in the Minor League system, climbing his way to the Yankees’ top squad in two years or so. An injury several years ago disrupted his throwing motion, which no longer seems to be an issue. It could have lingering effects throwing from behind the plate.

 

New York Yankees’ Austin Well starts off his career in Pinstripes on a very bad note

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New York Yankees, Austin Wells

There is no question that the New York Yankees gained a talented player in Austin Wells, given his ability to play catcher and potentially translate over to an outfield position. However, for Yankee fans, Wells comes with a bit of baggage that some people might find concerning.

Wells is a Red Sox fan, joining their ranks during their historic World Series run in 2004. Boston defeated the Yankees, coming back from 3-0 down in the American League championship series, going on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals to win their first World Series since 1918.

“Yes, I was a Red Sox fan growing up,” Wells, who was raised in Las Vegas, told NorthJersey.com. “I think everybody’s mind changed (Wednesday) night after hearing my name called. I’m definitely a big Yankee fan now.”

The lefty slugger is expected to climb the minor-league ranks quickly and could find himself on the active roster within the next 2–3 seasons. The Arizona product was selected with the 28th overall pick in the first round, and some question his ability to adapt to the catcher position at the professional level.

The New York Yankees drafted Austin Wells before in 2018

Back in 2017, Wells caught the attention of the Yankees, breaking out with Bishop Gorman High School in Vegas. However, an elbow injury severely hurt his production and forced him to miss the season behind the plate. When the Bombers drafted him in 2018, he elected to attend the University of Arizona, stating:

“Coming here was the best decision I ever made,” Wells told Tucson.com in February. “So I’m super thankful … not thankful that (my injury) happened, but I’m thankful that I was able to go through this process, because I feel so much more prepared to play baseball at the next level.”

While Wells’ desire is to play catcher moving forward, he will do whatever it takes to succeed at the next level, even if it’s with the Yankees.

“I’m a catcher. I want to be a catcher,” Wells said. “I’m definitely willing to do whatever it takes to get to the big leagues. So, if that’s at another position, I’ll just hit home runs at Yankee Stadium and play wherever they need me to.”

The Bombers currently have Gary Sanchez behind the plate as their primary option. Sanchez has struggled with injuries in recent years, and if he continues to battle bodily deterioration, Wells could have an expedited process to the big leagues. Nonetheless, he must prove his worth in the minors first and foremost.

Austin Wells has no regrets and said passing on the Yankees in 2018 was the best decision

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New York Yankees, Austin Wells

When a high school baseball player has a commitment to attend a specific college, some teams try to lure them away in the draft by spending a mid or late-round pick and offering over-slot money. Some of them sign, others honor that commitment and go the university. New York Yankees‘ first round selection last night, Austin Wells, was in the second camp.

Oddly enough, the team that tried to lure him away from a college commitment in 2018 were the New York Yankees. He decided to go to the University of Arizona to pursue his education and hone his game a little bit more. The decision paid off.

In a couple of years with the Wildcats, Allen developed a sweet swing that is a great bet to hit for both average and power when he goes to the highest competition, Major League Baseball. The Yankees took him on Wednesday night with the 28th pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.

The Yankees had their eye on him since 2017

Wells’ true breakthrough year was in 2017, while he was at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. But he hurt his elbow and was unable to play in his senior season. Nevertheless, the Yankees drafted him in the 35th round of the 2018 Draft.

Wells decided to keep his word and go to Arizona. “Coming here was the best decision I ever made,” Wells told Tucson.com in February. “So I’m super thankful … not thankful that (my injury) happened, but I’m thankful that I was able to go through this process, because I feel so much more prepared to play baseball at the next level.”

He dominated with the Wildcats, with a .353/.462/.552 as a freshman and a .375 average and a .527 OBP in his abbreviated sophomore year.

“God has an interesting path sometimes,” Austin’s father, Greg Wells, said via Tucson.com. “If you look at where Austin is at today versus where he would have been signing out of high school, he’s a better person, a better man, more educated.”

New York Yankees: 3 important things to know about Austin Wells

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New York Yankees, Austin Wells

The New York Yankees landed Austin Wells out of Arizona with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft. While he’s coming into the majors as a catcher, he projects as a potential outfielder/first baseman. His initial signing bonus could land in the $2.5 million range, and he represents the teams only pick until No. 99. MLB Pipeline rated him as the No. 27 overall prospect and Baseball America had him at No. 21.

The Yankees are getting an exciting young prospect in Wells, capable of becoming a strong lefty-slugger in the future. At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, Wells compares to Cubs’ Kyle Schwarber at 6-foot, 235 pounds. Both are left-handed hitters and started out as catchers at the collegiate level. If Wells can develop similarly to Schwarber, the Yankees will be extremely excited about their selection down the line.

In 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic cut the season short, Wells hit .353 with five homeruns and 60 RBIs. Prior to the season ending this year, he hit .375 with two homeruns and 14 RBIs in just 15 games.

Here are three things the New York Yankees are getting in Wells:

1.) Wells is essentially positionless

Despite Wells entering the MLB as a catcher, he projects as a first baseman or outfielder. While he has average arm strength and decent technique, but his throws are inconsistent from his catching stance. Of course, he has plenty of time to develop, and if he ends up sticking at catcher and succeeding, the Yanks will be in a good spot to supplement the eventual degradation of Gary Sanchez.

Sanchez has struggled with lower back problems and injuries in recent years, indicating that he could deteriorate rather quickly. Wells has the ability to rise through the ranks in an expedited fashion, and if he can do so within the next two years, the Yankees will be in good shape.

2.) Left-handed slugger

The Yankees barely have any left-handed hitters in their lineup, aside from Brett Gardner and switch-hitting Aaron hicks/Mike Tauchman. By the time Wells enters the fold, Gardner will be retired, and that is possible Talquin could be left behind as well. The need to add more lefty talent to the batting order and they are doing just that by drafting wells.

3.) Projects as more of an outfielder 

Despite Wells playing catcher with Arizona, he has the physical abilities to transfer over to the outfield. Some believe he projects as a left fielder, simply based on his mediocre arm. His defensive attributes behind the plate don’t make up for his deficiencies, which could see him switch positions in the future.

New York Yankees: Why did the Yankees pick Catcher Austin Wells in the MLB Draft?

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The New York Yankees surprised many sportswriters, including this one, when they selected Austin Wells in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft. Most writers before the draft zoned in on Carson Tucker and Justin Foscue and a few others to be Yankee targets.  With James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka becoming free agents, and Luis Severino out for the season, you might have assumed they would go after a pitcher for depth. So why did the Yankees select the catcher Wells whose backstop abilities are suspect?  It wasn’t to add another catcher; it is because he is a left-handed power bat, which the Yankees direly need.

The pick of Austin Wells probably shouldn’t have been a surprise because the Yankees went after him in the draft three years ago when he was at Las Vegas High School.  Wells chose college instead and enrolled at the University of Arizona, where he has honed his skills and has proven to be a powerful left-hand hitter.  This could be a huge win for the Yankees because if he doesn’t work out as a catcher, he also has played in the outfield and at first base, keeping his bat in the lineup.

With his plate discipline and left-hand power it is very possible that Wells may be on the superhighway to the majors.  The Yankees have until August 1 to sign him.  Wells is 6′ 2″ 220 pounds, is a 20-year-old star. It has been said that Austin Wells plays with the same intensity as Bryce Harper who was out of the same Las Vegas high school.

Yankees vice president of amateur scouting Damon Oppenheimer along with other scouts throughout baseball have been working mostly in the dark with no college ball being played.  He has used tapes and discussions this year to decide on draft picks.  Oppenheimer said of Wells:

“We are very happy to get Austin Wells today. “We thought he was one of the top hit-and-power combinations in the draft. We love his desire and makeup, along with his athleticism. We have known him for years and seen him progress quite a bit behind the plate to allow us to believe he can be an impact guy.”

Now in his second year at the University of Arizona, he has received 16 honors and awards.

  • 2020 Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll
  • 2020 Collegiate Baseball Second-Team All-American
  • 2020 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award watch list
  • 2020 Pac-12 Player of the Week (2/18)
  • 2020 NCBWA Third-Team Preseason All-American
  • 2020 Baseball America Second-Team Preseason All-American
  • 2020 D1Baseball Second-Team Preseason All-American
  • 2020 Perfect Game Second-Team Preseason All-American
  • 2020 Collegiate Baseball Second-Team Preseason All-American
  • 2019 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year
  • 2019 Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention
  • 2019 D1Baseball First-Team Freshmen All-American
  • 2019 Baseball America First-Team Freshmen All-American
  • 2019 Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-American
  • 2019 NCBWA First-Team Freshman All-American
  • 2019 Perfect Game/Rawlings Freshmen All-American
  • 2019 Cape Cod League All-Star (starter)
  • 2019 Cape Cod League Outstanding Pro Prospect
  • 2019 Arizona Summer Player of the Year

Like New York Yankees Aaron Judge before him, Austin Wells played in the 2019 summer Cape Cod League.  While at Cape Cod, he played in 42 regular-season games…Earned Cape Cod League’s Outstanding Pro Prospect Award at the conclusion of the season.  He hit .308 with 23 runs scored, 13 doubles, seven home runs, and 26 RBI.  He also was the starting catcher in the Cape Cod All-Star game.

In this shortened coronavirus season at Arizona, he played in all 15 games. He hit .375 with 12 runs scored, six doubles, two home runs, and 14 RBI. His season highlight includes a strong plate discipline that allowed him more walks than strikeouts.  On March 7, he had a four-hit game.  He was the club’s everyday catcher in 12 games while playing in the outfield once and serving as DH in two games. He had only one passed ball while achieving a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage over a team-leading 121 chances.

With the pick of Austin Wells, the Yankees could just have their next Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton behind the plate in one way or the other.  Whatever the case he might have a very bright future with the Yankee organization.

When in the offseason, the New York Yankees signed star ace pitcher Gerrit Cole.  In doing so, they lost their 2nd, and 5th round picks in this year’s draft.  Today with the draft shortened from 40 rounds to just five, they will make their 3rd and 4th round picks.  Count on EmpireSportsMedia.com to keep you informed as the draft progresses.

 

 

 

New York Yankees select Austin Wells with first-round pick in MLB draft

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New York Yankees

The New York Yankees have selected Austin Wells (C) from the University of Arizona with their first-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.

Originally drafted by the Yankees in 2018 out of high school, the club has had eyes on Wells for some time now. Everyone knows that the New York Yankees values offensive production the most and that’s exactly what Austin Wells brings to the table. Scouts have noticed his ability to hit for power to all parts of the field. In his freshman season at Arizona, Wells batted .353 with 78 hits and five home runs through 56 games played. In the short amount of time that college baseball had this year, Wells was batting .375 with 21 hits and two home runs through 15 games played.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFGkLn35k8Y

Something to note about Wells’ game is his great plate discipline. He can take a walk when it matters most, racking up 46 walks through 56 games. The only concern that comes with Wells is that scouts doubt his defensive ability behind the plate. He was a designated hitter his senior year in high school and there are some concerns that his defensive won’t be able to play at the next level.

It’s possible that Wells will begin primarily as a catcher, but move to another position. It’s been done before and some players have made great careers at positions they weren’t originally always playing, such as Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. Wells is most comparable to Schwarber, as they both have similar frames and were both catchers starting off. Both players bat left-handed and throw right-handed, and had similar numbers in college.

This is what some scouts had to say about Wells’ game:

Dan Zielinki – Baseball Prospect Journal 

The left-handed hitter has power to all fields. The biggest question is Wells’ future defensive position, as he has work to do if he wants to stay behind the plate in pro ball.

Ian Smith – Prospect 365

Wells projects to be a 55 hit, 60+ power type profile as a professional. Where the concerns in Wells’ profiles lie are his defensive destination. A big body already at 6-foot-2 and 220 lbs., Wells shows good qualities as a backstop with a big arm and great leadership, but he struggles with breaking balls and doesn’t move particularly well.

Athlon Sports: 

There’s a healthy debate as to whether Wells will play catcher, first base or a corner outfield spot in pro ball, but there is a solid consensus that he should hit enough to be a productive pro even if he ends up at first base.

This was a good pick for the Yankees, as Wells brings a lot of talent to the table. He provides an above-average bat and if he’s able to figure it out behind the plate, this could be a steal for the Yankees.

Analyzing Possible Selections for the New York Yankees in MLB Draft

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New York Yankees, Hal Steinbrenner

The MLB five-day draft is set to begin on Wednesday, June 10th and there have been mock drafts created in preparation for the event. The New York Yankees have the 28th pick with a total of only three picks in the draft since they surrendered their second and fifth rounders when they signed Gerrit Cole.

Even though the Yankees already have a highly talented team and a very strong farm system, picking the right player with their first pick is always big. Last year, the New York Yankees selected Anthony Volpe from Delbarton High School with the 30th pick. Despite missing some time due to contracting Mono, Volpe impressed in his first professional season and there are high hopes for him.

For this season, it’s believed that the Yankees are going to select a hitter first and then grab a pitcher in the later round. Here are some of the players that are predicted to be selected by the Yanks:

Ed Howard, SS, Mount Carmel HS

Predicted by Jim Callis from MLB Network, Oaklahoma commit Ed Howard is believed to be picked by the Yankees because he’s the most talented infielder in this year’s draft and the Yankees are looking for a strong fielder. According to Perfect Game USA, Howard 6.76 60 yard dash and throws 88 mph across the infield.

This was Howard’s write-up at the Perfect Game 2019 National Showcase:

Ed Howard is a 2020 SS with a 6-2 185 lb. frame from Lynwood, IL who attends Mount Carmel. Long and projectable athletic build. 6.76 runner, has very athletic actions in the middle infield, plays balanced and smooth while showing big range, very fast and sure hands, solid arm strength with a very quick release from multiple arm angles, accurate throws. Right handed hitter, hits from a slightly open stance, simple repeatable load, same lightning quick hands drive the barrel, very good bat speed with loud contact and consistent hard loud barrel, line drive contact now with power to come. Everything in his game is balanced, athletic and explosive and will continue to improve as he gets stronger. Good student, verbal commitment to Oklahoma. Named to play in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

Austin Wells, C, Arizona

Originally drafted by the Yankees in 2018 out of high school, the club has had eyes on Wells for some time now. Everyone knows that the New York Yankees values offensive production the most and that’s exactly what Austin Wells brings to the table. Scouts have noticed his ability to hit for power to all parts of the field. In his freshman season at Arizona, Wells batted .353 with 78 hits and five home runs through 56 games played. In the short amount of time that college baseball had this year, Wells was batting .375 with 21 hits and two home runs through 15 games played.

This pick was predicted by Mike Axisa from CBS Sports, and it makes sense for the Yankees. After Gary Sanchez and Kyle Higashioka, the Yankees don’t have much depth in the catcher position. The only concern that comes with Wells is that scouts doubt his defensive ability behind the plate. He was a designated hitter his senior year in high school and there are some concerns that his defensive won’t be able to play at the next level.

Clayton Beeter, RHP, Texas Tech

As stated before, the New York Yankees are most likely going to select a strong arm in the later round of the draft. Clayton Beeter has drawn attention from the Yankees as his fastball can run up to 98 mph. In two seasons at Texas Tech, Beeter holds a 2.81 career ERA in 41.2 innings pitched.

However, there’s some big concern with Beeter. He’s coming off two major injuries while he was at Texas Tech, having Tommy John surgery in 2017 and an arthroscopic procedure on the same elbow seven months after TJ. It’s possible that the Yankees shy away from Beeter because they’re paranoid about injuries, but it’s also hard to overlook a guy throwing 98 mph.