Austin Wells

Austin Wells's Biography

Born on July 12th, 1999 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Austin Kenneth Wells is a noteworthy name in American baseball. The talented athlete adopted a passion for baseball in his childhood, coming from a lineage of sports enthusiasts. He is the son of Michelle, an alumni University of Arizona gymnast of Dominican descent, and Greg, a University of Arizona baseball player. Austin is the middle of three brothers, with Carson displaying an affinity for baseball and Mason choosing lacrosse instead.

During his early years, Austin attended Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas where he excelled as a catcher for the baseball team. In his junior year, he recorded an impressive .500 batting average with eight home runs and 47 runs batted in (RBIs). His performance earned him the coveted Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year and a second team All-American title by USA Today. This accomplishment led him to play in the prestigious Under Armour All-America Baseball Game.

The path to success wasn’t easy for Austin. Although committed to the University of Arizona, he encountered a devastating elbow injury during his senior year, requiring him to have surgery. Unable to fulfill his role as the team’s catcher, he spent his entire senior season working as a designated hitter. Despite being selected by the New York Yankees in the 35th round of the 2018 MLB draft, a robust return was necessary, and he decided to attend Arizona University to fully recover.

His career took a turn for the better as he recovered from surgery. As a freshman at Arizona, Austin showcased his ability with a .353 batting average, comprising of 73 runs, 15 doubles, seven triples, five home runs and 60 RBIs. This performance earned him the title “Pac-12 Conference Freshman of the Year.”

After his freshman season, Austin joined the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox for the Cape Cod Baseball League. He maintained a .308 batting average accompanied by seven home runs and 26 RBIs, which led to his recognition as a League All-Star. Moreover, he received the Robert A. McNeese Outstanding Pro Prospect Award for his tremendous performance.

Even though Wells’ sophomore season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic, his .375 batting average, 1.116 OPS, two home runs and 14 RBIs in 15 games, and his inclusion in the Golden Spikes Award watchlist exhibited his growth as a player.

The New York Yankees, recognizing his talent, selected Wells during the first round of the 2020 MLB draft. He did not make them regret their decision, impressing them during the 2021 spring training as a non-roster player. They assigned him to their Low-A Tampa Tarpons and later to the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades. Finishing the 2021 season hitting a combined .264/.390/.476 over 103 games, Wells showcased his batting prowess with 16 home runs and 76 RBIs.

Entering the 2022 season, Wells continued to impress the Yankees management. He endured a minor setback, sustaining a rib injury during the spring training which caused a delay in his 2023 season with Somerset. However, on July 21, he received a promotion to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

The pinnacle of Wells’ career arrived on September 1st, 2023, when the Yankees promoted him to the major leagues. He struck gold on his debut night, recording his first MLB hit in his first at-bat against Justin Verlander. His prowess was further demonstrated on September 20th when he hit his first career home run, a 416-foot solo shot to the right field off pitcher Erik Swanson during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Wells’ exceptional performance, hitting two back-to-back home runs against Arizona and Toronto, played a vital role in his team’s victories. Hitting game-winning home-runs back to back against the Diamondbacks on September 25 and against The Blue Jays the following day, Wells made a significant impact during his rookie season. His home-run in the ninth inning against the Blue Jays secured a 2-0 victory, positioning him as an impressive addition to the Yankees.