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Austin Wells May Hold On to Yankees Superstition While Gearing Up for 2025 Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Feb 26, 2025 3:38 PM ET

Austin Wells may have shed the rookie label last season, but the New York Yankees catcher thinks he may hold on to some rookie duties. Call him superstitious, but Wells is considering keeping the responsibility of carrying the team’s boombox this season.

“We did have a pretty good year, though, so I might, I might take it back,” Wells told YES Network’s Meredith Markovitz during the Feb. 26 game against the Cardinals. “I don't know. We'll see.”

Wells reminded Yankees fans why he was a key part of that success in his Grapefruit League season debut. He had started spring training on a slower track than other catchers and initially was not expected to play in a game until March.

Wells showed he was ready for his sophomore season when he ripped an RBI double, going 1-for-2 with an RBI in his first game.

Wells' double came off the bat at 103.1 miles per hour and a fly out earlier in the game had a 101 mph exit velocity.

"I am just trying to improve in all areas," Wells said of his goals for the season. "Really, I'd like to be better every year, and I think that's my goal. And I think, looking back, there's a lot to improve on, but a lot to be happy about. So just picking and choosing, we're gonna try and get better, and knowing what makes me good and trying to stick with that."

Wells hit 13 homers with a .229/.322/.395 slash line and a .718 OPS in 115 games during his rookie season. He also led all major league catchers in errors with 11.

The Yankees chose to ease Wells into spring training due to his career-high workload last season. They believe that affected his offensive production, citing a dramatic drop off. He hit .325 in August but struggled in September, going just 8-for-72 (.111) down the stretch.

"I don’t really know," Wells said when asked if the catching workload impacted his offense. "As I said, it being my first time. I don't really know how I was feeling, but at the time, I felt like it was just kind of what I was doing. And I think looking back, I feel much better right now than I did back then, but I'm not, you know, gonna let that affect how I played."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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