Austin Wells Fantasy Stats

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells played a surprisingly key role in his team's 9-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series, going 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly, two RBI, and a run scored. The 27-year-old had a down year at the plate in 2026, hitting .182/.292/.332 with 14 home runs, 32 RBI, 39 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 388 plate appearances. Wells' barrel rate dropped to a career-low 7.7%, while his strikeout rate increased to a career-worst 26.5%. However, Wells was significantly better in the second half of the season than he was in the first, hitting .229 with a 14.3% walk rate, .787 OPS, and eight home runs across 140 plate appearances after the All-Star break. If Wells can continue to provide solid production at the bottom of the Yankees lineup, he could be an X-factor for New York in the postseason.

The New York Yankees announced on Sunday that they reinstated catcher Austin Wells (head) from the 10-day injured list. Wells returns to the Yankees after missing two weeks while dealing with cervical headaches, but it's unclear if he'll be in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale in the Bronx on Father's Day against the Cincinnati Reds. During three minor-league rehab games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Wells went 2-for-12 at the plate with two home runs. Now that he's back, the left-handed-hitting backstop will return to starting catching duties for the Yankees, with Ali Sanchez backing him up. The 26-year-old former 28th overall pick in 2020 out of the University of Arizona had a career-high 21 home runs and drove in 71 runs in 126 regular-season games in 2025 in his second full season in the big leagues, so he's displayed above-average power for a catcher. However, before landing on the IL, Wells was struggling mightily with a .166/.278/.255 slash line, career-low .533 OPS, four homers, seven RBI, and a 26.6% strikeout rate in 47 games across 169 plate appearances. Wells is rostered in under 10% of Yahoo leagues.

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells (head), who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with cervical headaches, had an MRI exam on June 8, although manager Aaron Boone didn't have an update on his status before Monday's series opener in Cleveland against the Guardians, according to MLB.com. It's good news that the 26-year-old backstop isn't dealing with a concussion, but there's no timetable for when he might come off the IL. Until he's able to return, the Yankees will roll with J.C. Escarra and Ali Sanchez behind the plate. Wells has never hit for average in his four seasons in the big leagues, but he did have a career-best 21 home runs and 71 RBI in 126 regular-season games played in 2025 in his third year in the majors. Wells is having a rough season in 2026 to this point, batting an ugly .166 (24-for-145) with just four home runs, seven RBI, 15 runs scored, and a career-high 26.6% strikeout rate in 47 games across 169 plate appearances. He's rostered in under 10% of Yahoo leagues because of his struggles.

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells (head) was placed on the 10-day Injured List ahead of Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox. Wells will be placed on the shelf due to what the team is calling cervical headaches. Wells has struggled heavily with only one hit over his last five games. He'll now be placed on the IL and hopefully get this situation straightened out soon. In a corresponding move, catcher J.C. Escarra has been recalled from Triple-A. He'll likely split up the time behind the plate with Ali Sanchez. Neither hitter is an ideal fantasy option at the moment.

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells hit a game-ending three-run home run in the seventh inning on Friday for Team Dominican Republic to help them beat South Korea 10-0 to reach the World Baseball Classic semifinals. Wells' homer was the 14th for the Dominicans in the tournament, tying the record set by Mexico in 2009. The 26-year-old left-handed hitting backstop also hit a home run for the Dominican Republic in pool play in a win over the Netherlands. Wells is the Yankees' primary catcher going into the 2026 season after he hit .219/.275/.436 with a .712 OPS, a career-high 21 home runs, 71 RBI, 51 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 448 plate appearances over 126 games in his third year in the big leagues. If you wait at the catching position, Wells is a solid No. 2 catching target for his power in a strong Yankees' lineup. He should have a pretty solid counting-stat floor as New York's primary option behind the dish.

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells is not in the lineup for his team's game against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday. Ben Rice will take his place behind the plate and bat second. With just two games remaining in the regular season, Wells has slashed .221/.277/.440 with 21 home runs, 71 RBI, 51 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 445 plate appearances. The 26-year-old has ceded some playing time to Rice in the second half of the season, but the Yankees have also found ways to play them both by starting Rice at first base. Wells will likely be back in the lineup tomorrow against Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish.

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells will get a breather in the second game of the series at Yankee Stadium on Saturday against the visiting Houston Astros with tough left-hander Framber Valdez on the mound. Ben Rice will do the catching for right-hander Luis Gil and will hit fifth against Valdez. Wells is only hitting .209 (64-for-306) on the season, but he's already up to a career-high 15 home runs and 56 RBI for the Yanks in 92 games in his third MLB season. He's actually been better against lefties, too, batting .245 (24-for-98) with five of his 15 homers against them in 2025. Rice has had a breakout season in his first full season in the big leagues with 16 home runs and 36 RBI in his 96 games played in pinstripes. He has never faced Valdez, though, and has gone only 14-for-71 (.197) with four of his 16 long balls against southpaws this year.

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-4 win against the New York Mets. He added another RBI on a fielder's choice and also singled. The Yankees avoided the sweep against their cross-town rivals, and Wells was a big part of it -- giving the Yanks their first lead in the third with his thirteenth long ball of the season. That marks back-to-back games in which the 25-year-old has left the yard, and he's started off the month nicely, batting .333 (4-for-12). Wells' .220 xBA is right in line with his average on the season, but it's worth noting that he's making better quality of contact this year and more contact when he swings in general (82.9% Zone Contact).

New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham (hamstring) and catcher Austin Wells (finger) are both back in the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander Chris Bassitt. Grisham is in center field and batting leadoff, while Wells is catching and in the eight-hole. Grisham is back after missing the last two games with tightness in his left hamstring. The Yankees initially thought that the 28-year-old was going to need a trip to the injured list, but that won't be the case now. Wells missed four straight games with arterial damage in his left index finger, but he's also feeling good enough to return to the lineup. Grisham has hit .182 with a solo home run in 11 career at-bats against Bassitt, while Wells has a .250 average in eight career at-bats against Bassitt.

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells (finger) won't be available for Monday or Tuesday's game due to a circulation issue in his finger. Wells underwent testing to rule out any blood clots and those came back negative. The team plans to give him a few days to rest, but expect Wells back in the lineup on Wednesday. This could result in a trip to the injured list if the injury doesn't get better. For now, fantasy managers can consider him day-to-day and rule him out for the next two contests. In the meantime, J.C. Escarra will be behind the plate and bat eighth versus right-hander Max Scherzer on Monday.