Yankees’ Austin Wells Shares Cocky Message After Recent Benching

With two home runs in Wednesday’s victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, third-year catcher Austin Wells reminded New York Yankees fans not to give up on him.

More importantly, Wells had an opportunity to reiterate, both to fans and management, why he remains confident despite a prolonged summer slump.

“If we’re looking at the catching, I’m one of the best catchers in the league,” Wells told NJ Advance Media earlier this week.

To be clear, Wells was talking about his defensive framing rather than his bat. It’s a good thing, too, because the 2020 first-round pick has been mired in a deep hitting slump in recent weeks — and it’s cost him both a spot in the lineup and his starting catcher role. Yankees manager Aaron Boone has primarily started Ben Rice behind the plate, leaving Wells to spend most games in the dugout.

Wells is hitting under .200 since July 1, and he’s struck out 22 times against six walks in 99 plate appearances.