It’s safe to say Austin Wells is ready to rejoin the American League-leading Bronx Bombers. In his second rehab appearance after going on the 10-day injured list with cervical headaches, Wells homered twice and drove in three runs for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre fell to the Columbus Clippers (Triple-A Cleveland), 7-5, with Wells making the final out with a flyout to left field.
Wells went on the injured list on June 6 and began his rehab assignment on June 16. The catcher slotted into the leadoff spot on Thursday and tallied five plate appearances.
On the first pitch of the game, Wells blasted a 93.2 mph fastball a Statcast-projected 376 feet for a home run. He popped out to second base in his next at-bat and flew out to left in his third at-bat. After Payton Henry walked in the top of the seventh, Wells went deep on a 91.6 mph fastball, crushing it 392 feet.
Wells was batting .166 with a .533 OPS in 145 at-bats for the Yankees before going on the IL. With Wells out, J.C. Escarra has filled in behind the plate and Ali Sánchez has added depth. Both have produced an OPS under .700.