Player Profile: Austin Wells

Austin Wells was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 12, 1999. He played high school baseball at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a junior, he was named the Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year and a second-team All-American. He would also make an appearance in the Under Armour All-American Baseball Game.

Wells’ future was jeopardized in his senior year due to an elbow injury that required surgery. He would play that year but in a limited capacity as a designated hitter. The injury resulted in diminished interest from major league teams, but he finished his senior year batting an impressive .527 with 20 doubles, six triples, four home runs, and 46 RBI.

Where Did Austin Wells Go To College?

Like his parents, Austin Wells was committed to playing for the University of Arizona Wildcats. He had an impressive freshman season, finishing with a .353 batting average, 15 doubles, seven triples, five home runs, and 60 RBIs. He was also named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. That summer, Wells decided to play in the Cape Cod League with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. He received All-Star honors and the Robert A. McNeese Outstanding Pro Prospect Award. He concluded the summer with a slash line of .308/.389/.526 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs.

Before the start of his sophomore year, Wells was on the Golden Spikes Award watchlist and was projected to have an even better season. He would only play 15 games before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wells finished with a slash line of .375/.589/1.116 with two home runs and 14 RBIs.

When Was Austin Wells Drafted?

In the 35th round of the 2018 MLB Draft, the Yankees selected Austin Wells. Rather than signing with New York, Wells decided to go to college at the University of Arizona. He entered the draft again in 2020 and was selected by the Yankees in the first round as the 28th overall pick.

Austin Wells Yankees’ Tenure

2021

Wells began his professional career with an invitation to spring training as a non-roster player. He started his minor league career with the Tampa Tarpons but would be promoted to the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades by July 2021. Wells finished the regular season hitting .264/.390/.476 with 16 home runs and 76 RBIs over 103 games. That fall, the Yankees assigned Wells to the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .344/.456/.578 with a pair of home runs and 18 RBI over 18 games.

2022

Austin Wells started his second season with the Hudson Valley Renegades but would be promoted to the AA Somerset Patriots by the beginning of the summer. He finished the year strong, hitting a respectable .261/.360/.479 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI.

2023

Entering spring training, Wells was listed as the Yankees’ number-eight prospect. However, Wells’ aspirations to make a good impression on the Yankees’ front office were dashed when it was revealed that he had suffered a broken rib. The injury benched Wells for the remainder of spring training and the start of his regular season in Somerset. Despite the delay, Wells was promoted that summer, this time to the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. By summer’s end, Wells’ performance earned the long-awaited call from the Yankees’ front office; it was time to make his MLB debut. While his time with the club was short, it gave the Yankees a better look into Wells’ ability to perform at the highest level. Wells finished the season slashing .240/.333/.442 with 17 home runs and 72 RBI in the minor leagues and .229/.257/.486 with four home runs and 13 RBI with the Yankees.

Future

ITD ranks Austin Wells as the Yankees’ number-three prospect and will likely start the season with the major league club, subject to his spring training performance. However, with Jose Trevino scheduled to return in 2024, Wells could see himself competing with Ben Rortvedt for the platoon role.