Austin Wells: A Path Forward for Yankees Catcher in 2026

Frustration has been palpable among Yankees fans regarding Austin Wells following his 2025 season, and it’s a sentiment echoed in our recent roster evaluations, where he received a C+ grade. Once celebrated for his offensive prowess, Wells’ performance fell short of expectations this past year, leaving many to question his trajectory.

In his first full season in 2024, Wells displayed significant offensive potential, despite a dismal September and October slump that saw him post a wRC+ of just 23 over 83 plate appearances. Yet, he ended the year with a respectable overall wRC+ of 107, leading many to believe he could improve upon that in 2025. Unfortunately, his performance took a downturn, as his wRC+ plummeted to 94. His walk rate declined, strikeouts increased, and with a batting average of .219, he narrowly avoided having the lowest mark among Yankees regulars, only outpacing teammate Anthony Volpe’s .212.

As we delve into Wells’ 2025 season, it’s essential to explore the underlying factors contributing to his struggles. While the numbers might suggest a decline, a closer look reveals a player who understands his strengths and weaknesses. Wells demonstrated solid fundamentals, and if he can build upon these aspects in 2026, there’s reason to believe he can achieve better results.

Wells’ game is built around his power-hitting ability, which was evident in his minor league career where he consistently posted ISOs around or above .200. In 2025, he belted 21 home runs in 448 plate appearances, translating to a .217 ISO. Metrics from Baseball Savant indicate that his bat speed, average exit velocity, and barrel rate were all above average, showcasing his potential as a power hitter.

However, contact has not been Wells’ strong suit. While he managed a league-average strikeout rate of 21 percent in 2024, that number climbed in 2025, and key indicators such as swinging strike rate and zone contact rate remained largely unchanged. This suggests Wells’ true strikeout rate may be more reflective of his 2025 performance than the previous year, indicating he may not be contending for a batting title anytime soon.

So, how can Wells return to being an above-average hitter? The answer lies in maximizing the effectiveness of his contact by focusing on pulling the ball in the air. The good news is, he already showed promising signs in 2025, achieving a pulled airball rate of 22.8 percent, the highest of his career. However, this still placed him 85th among 348 players with at least 200 plate appearances, indicating room for improvement.

To put this into perspective, the top performer in pulled airballs was Isaac Paredes, who managed a 128 wRC+ with an impressive 38.5 percent pulled airball rate. Wells, meanwhile, can take notes from players like Paredes and Cal Raleigh, who excelled in this area and enjoyed successful seasons. With 67 percent of his contact being airborne, which ranks 29th in baseball, even a slight increase in his pulled airball rate could yield significant dividends.

Of course, implementing such changes is easier said than done. Whether it requires adjusting his timing to catch pitches earlier or refining his swing decisions remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that Wells must focus on pulling the ball in the air to unlock his offensive potential. With his strong defensive skills, evidenced by being a three-win player in 2025 primarily due to his elite framing, the prospect of Wells realizing his hitting capabilities could turn him into a perennial All-Star. The future is bright if he can harness his power and elevate his game.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.