How Wells is working to find his rhythm at the plate

This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

BOSTON -- It was only a little more than three months ago that Austin Wells was celebrated as a breakout star of this year’s World Baseball Classic, delivering several big hits for the Dominican Republic while earning a spot on the All-WBC Tournament Team.

The 26-year-old catcher returned to Yankees camp energized, calling it among the most fun experiences he’d had in a baseball uniform. More good times seemed to be in store for Wells, who never could have envisioned carrying some of the league’s lowest offensive numbers into the second half.

Owning a .157 batting average and a .499 OPS after Sunday's 5-4 walk-off loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park, Wells is attempting to maintain an upbeat attitude and workmanlike mindset. One key is keeping those struggles from bleeding into the aspect he feels the Yankees value most: his defense.

“It’s not a secondary part of my game, but my number one job is to control the pitching staff,” Wells said. “If we’re not doing that, it doesn’t matter how many runs or hits I have – we can’t win the game. So I know that I have a huge impact when I’m behind the plate.”

His pitchers won’t argue, but still, every hitless showing chafes at Wells.

Wells’ recent stint on the injured list with cervical headaches doubled as an opportunity to dig into mechanical issues under the hood. That led to several lengthy sessions with Jarret DeHart, the club’s director of hitting, who was with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at the time and came ready with suggestions.

“Over the years, I’ve flattened out and the approach has gotten steeper into the zone,” Wells said. “I’m just trying to get a little bit more of the tilt back in my swing, which will hopefully allow for some more mis-hit balls that fall and find the grass, rather than having to be perfect with my accuracy and timing."

In simpler terms, Wells is trying to lift the ball more frequently. He saw some results during a Minor League rehab stint, including a two-homer game on June 18 at Columbus. Thus far, the Yankees are waiting to see the work translate into big league knocks.

“I feel like I’m building off some good progress, honestly, over the last couple of weeks,” Wells said. “The results aren’t what I want them to be, but [Saturday] I felt really good in the box. … I’m just trying to focus more on being able to do whatever I can, if that’s driving the runner in or moving them over.”

Wells has gone 2-for-21 (.095) with a double and three RBIs since being activated from the injured list on June 21. After Saturday’s loss at Fenway, manager Aaron Boone said he believes there have been signs of progress, opining that Wells’ swing is better than it was two or three weeks ago.

“I feel like he’s moving the needle right now, believe it or not,” Boone said. “He was really struggling there for a while. I feel like he’s gaining a little bit of traction. I know the results haven’t necessarily been there yet.”

When Wells was selected in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft, he was viewed as an offense-first catcher whose defense might not be good enough to stick without a position switch.

That scouting report has flipped, and now the Yankees must consider if Wells is providing enough with the bat to remain in his starting role.

“He wants to play better. He wants to be great,” Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole said. “His level of preparation and his intent and his attitude every day, [it] says all the right things. It is weighing on him, but he’s doing a great job of being even-keeled and staying in the fight.”

For now, it appears Wells has a bit more runway. Ali Sánchez has provided some unexpected pop after being promoted as a right-handed-hitting replacement for J.C. Escarra, who is back in Triple-A, but the Yankees view him as a backup.

The Yankees are widely expected to gauge the catching ahead of the Trade Deadline, with the Twins’ Ryan Jeffers one logical fit.

Jeffers, who is recovering from a left hamate bone fracture, is a pending free agent who has a pre-existing relationship with Yankees catching coach Tanner Swanson. That could potentially cut down the in-season adjustment time of importing a new catcher to handle the staff.

Hunter Goodman of the Rockies would also be appealing, advertising the thump that the Yanks expected from Wells. But Wells can’t concern himself with rumor buzz. Front office decisions are above his pay grade, and he’s already got enough to deal with behind the plate.

“If I go 0-for-3 on the day, I’m obviously pissed off about it,” Wells said. “But getting to go out there in the eighth or ninth inning and get a zero and win the game, that’s the most important goal.”