‘Streaky’ Austin Wells still trying to find swing amid Yankees early slump

Even erstwhile Austin Wells does thing correct these days, he’s not being rewarded. 

The slumping catcher hammered a 106-mph changeable to correct section that seemed destined for nan bleachers successful nan bottommost of nan 2nd connected Friday. 

But his location tally trot was interrupted by nan truth nan shot deed nan apical of nan wall and bounced backmost onto nan section for a double. 

Wells said after a 9-1 nonaccomplishment to San Francisco successful a rain-shortened conclusion that he “for sure” thought nan shot was gone. 

“I conjecture if I realized nan upwind was blowing that way, I would person tally harder,’’ Wells said. 

It was nan latest spot of violative misfortune for Wells, who came up done nan minors known for his left-handed bat, but whose defense was shaky capable to wherever location were questions astir whether he would instrumentality astatine catcher. 

Throughout nan Yankee organization, though, Wells has won praise for his activity ethic down nan plate, which has helped move him into a coagulated protect catcher. 

Yankee pitchers for illustration throwing to him and Wells has proven to beryllium adept astatine stealing strikes and calling a bully game.

What hasn’t translated arsenic much, some early this play and toward nan extremity of his rookie twelvemonth of 2024, is nan expected accumulation connected offense. 

Wells vanished nan regular play a twelvemonth agone successful a 3-for-45 tailspin successful his last 13 games anterior to nan playoffs and those struggles continued into October, erstwhile he went 6-for-50 pinch a .460 OPS successful nan team’s tally to nan World Series. 

Throughout nan slump, Wells acknowledged his trouble hitting balls up successful nan onslaught zone. 

There was optimism heading into this play that nan acquisition would only make Wells amended successful ’25, but truthful far, that hasn’t been nan case. 

After homering successful each of his first 2 games of nan season, Wells entered Friday’s bid opener against nan Giants connected different chilly, bedewed nighttime successful The Bronx successful different rut. 

In his erstwhile 9 games, Wells was conscionable 5-for-31 pinch 2 extra-base hits — nary homers — a brace of walks and 9 strikeouts. 

Scouts who person seen him this play aren’t particularly alarmed, but they are taking note. 

“He’s shown he’s a streaky hitter and that would beryllium what I’d opportunity is going connected now,’’ 1 American League scout said. “But you don’t want these downturns to past excessively agelong if that’s nan case.” 

Wells is seeing much fastballs this twelvemonth (61.6 percent compared to 49.8 percent past year, according to Statcast) and remains inconsistent against nan pitch. 

He deed seventh successful nan lineup Friday against San Francisco left-hander Robbie Ray, coming disconnected having struck retired doubly successful 3 consecutive games. 

After it seemed for illustration he mightiness deed leadoff, particularly against right-handers, connected a regular basis, Wells’ inability to get connected guidelines astatine nan aforesaid gait arsenic he did a twelvemonth agone has meant Ben Rice has typically recovered himself successful that spot erstwhile nan Yankees are facing righties. 

Wells has been astatine nan apical of nan lineup conscionable erstwhile this year, connected Opening Day against nan Brewers. 

His six-homer spring, erstwhile Wells practically lived connected nan basepaths, has go a distant memory, arsenic are his 2 early homers erstwhile nan torpedo bat was each nan rage successful The Bronx.