Austin Wells
Austin Kenneth Wells is an American professional baseball catcher in the New York Yankees organization.
Austin Wells | |||
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New York Yankees | |||
Catcher | |||
Born: Las Vegas, Nevada | July 12, 1999|||
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Amateur career
Wells grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada and attended Bishop Gorman High School. As a junior, he was named the Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year and a second team All-American by USA Today and played in the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game after finishing the season with a .500 batting average with eight home runs and 47 runs batted in (RBI).[1] He committed to play college baseball at the University of Arizona, where his father played baseball and his mother had competed in gymnastics, during his junior year.[2] Wells batted .527 with 20 doubles, six triples and four home runs while scoring 46 runs and batting in 46 runs. Wells was selected by the New York Yankees in the 35th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, but he opted not to sign and enroll at Arizona.[3][4]
As a true freshman, Wells batted .353 with 73 runs, 15 doubles, seven triples, five home runs and 60 RBIs and was named the Pac-12 Conference Freshman on the Year.[5][6][7][8] Following the end of the season Wells played for the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league All-Star and was awarded the Robert A. McNeese Outstanding Pro Prospect Award after hitting .308 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs.[9][10][11]
Wells was named a second team preseason All-American by Baseball America and the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and to the third team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and was placed on the watchlist for the Golden Spikes Award going into his sophomore season.[12][13][14] Wells batted .375 with two home runs, 14 RBI and a 1.116 OPS in 15 games before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.[15]
Professional career
Wells was selected 28th overall by the New York Yankees the 2020 MLB Draft.[16] Wells signed with the Yankees on June 25 for a $2.5 million bonus.[17][18]
References
- "Austin Wells aiming to be next Las Vegas star to hit it big in MLB". USATodayHSS.com. August 1, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- Emerson, Justin (April 18, 2018). "Wells brothers carry fraternal bond to Bishop Gorman baseball". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- Emerson, Justin (June 6, 2018). "Bishop Gorman's Austin Wells among Las Vegas players chosen in MLB Draft". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- Lev, Michael (June 8, 2018). "After mostly favorable MLB draft, Wildcats have makings of more talented roster". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- Barr, Jason (February 12, 2020). "It's a family affair for Wells and Arias Jr". KGUN9.com. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- Mortensen, Christian (May 29, 2019). "Arizona baseball's Austin Wells named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year". AZDesertSwarm.com. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- Cicala, Paul (June 10, 2019). "UA duo make freshman All American Team". KVOA.com. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- Lev, Michael (February 13, 2020). "The wonderful life of Arizona's Austin Wells, workaholic Wildcat and would-be first-round draft pick". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- Lev, Michael (January 21, 2020). "Arizona Wildcats catcher Austin Wells receives another preseason All-America accolade". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- Cavadi, Wayne (July 10, 2019). "9 college baseball bats tearing up the Cape Cod Baseball League". NCAA.com. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- MacLone, Rich (August 9, 2019). "Cape League Announces Awards". The Bourne Enterprise. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- McCulloch, Bill (January 28, 2020). "Austin Wells Picks Up Multiple Preseason All-America Honors". 520SportsTalk.com. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- "2020 MLB Draft: A Conversation With Austin Wells". Baseball America. February 21, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- "Arizona Wildcats catcher Austin Wells named second-team preseason All-American". Arizona Daily Star. January 27, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- Pedersen, Brian J. (March 19, 2020). "MLB considering canceling 2020 amateur draft to recoup coronavirus losses, per report". AZDesertSwarm.com. SB Nation. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
- Caldera, Pete (June 10, 2020). "MLB Draft: New York Yankees select Austin Wells, catcher out of Arizona, in first round". app.com. USA Today. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- Holmlund, Ted (June 26, 2020). "Austin Wells is in the fold: 'Officially a Yankee!'". New York Post. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
- "Yankees, catcher Austin Wells agree to minor league deal, $2.5M bonus". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 26, 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Arizona Wildcats bio