MLB Team, Yankees, grappling with questions concerning Austin Wells' performance at catcher, as his current slump continues.
In the heart of the Major League Baseball season, New York Yankees' catcher Austin Wells is facing a challenging period. His offensive performance has been disappointing, with a .208 batting average and a .679 On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS) percentage, a significant drop from his initial season numbers.
Over the past month, Wells has struggled mightily, recording a .208 batting average and an OPS of just .679. This slump has been particularly evident against off-speed pitches like sliders and sweepers, where he holds the worst batting averages in the league.
The struggles have led to reduced playing time for Wells, with him being benched for the second time in three games. Manager Aaron Boone, while open to the possibility, has not yet confirmed a shift in playing time towards Ben Rice, another catcher on the roster.
Rice, who can also play first base and designated hitter, has been earning more starts recently as Wells sees reduced playing time. If Wells' offensive slump continues, his playing time as catcher may diminish in favor of Rice, especially if the Yankees want to optimize lineup flexibility with Paul Goldschmidt at first base.
Despite the struggles, James Rowson, the Yankees' hitting coach, is focusing on building Wells' confidence and ensuring he feels good about himself. Rowson believes in Wells' abilities and is confident that the rest of the team shares this belief.
Wells himself is determined to turn things around. He believes he is missing his pitch, particularly breaking balls, and is trying to adjust his body position to hit both breaking balls and fastballs. However, his recent efforts have yet to translate into results, as he is currently in a 5-for-47 drought without a homer since July 8.
Despite the challenges, Boone believes that when Wells is right, he lengthens the Yankees' lineup with his at-bats and power at the bottom of the order. Boone kept Rice in the game and wanted to get Paul Goldschmidt in the lineup during a recent game, illustrating the team's desire to balance their lineup.
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how Wells responds to these challenges and whether he can regain his initial form to secure his place in the Yankees' lineup.
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