Austin Wells
Austin Wells hitting the first of two extra-base hits in Wednesday night’s loss Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

After falling out of the postseason race in the 2023 season, the New York Yankees allowed a youth influx. Under the new approach, promising prospects from the minor leagues were promoted to the majors. Everson Pereira, Jasson Dominguez, and Austin Wells featured in that setup and debuted in September.

While some prospects like Jasson Dominguez owned the major league upon debut, Everson Pereira and Oswald Peraza were quiet. Meanwhile, catching prospect, Austin Wells also used his opportunity to create a meaningful impact. And ahead of the 2024 season, he is slated to play regular as a backstop, and Aaron Boone is already hyped to see Wells’ action on the plate.

   

Austin Wells’ Spring Heroics Leaves Aaron Boone Stumped!

Yankees
Somerset Patriots player Austin Wells Credit: Somerset Patriots

After weeks of struggle, catching prospect Austin Wells broke out of his offensive slump to own the recent spring game against the Detroit Tigers. While the New York Yankees ended up on the losing side, Wells’ remarkable contributions added to manager Aaron Boone’s optimism for the future. Wells lined a ground-rule double in his first at-bat down the right-field line with the bases loaded to drive in two. He followed it up with a gigantic 361-foot homer run over the right field wall for a solo shot. Besides, the right-hander also stole third base and finished 2-for-3 with a strikeout. It was a successful day for Austin Wells individually as he managed to regain offensive form just weeks ahead of the opening day series against Houston Astros.

Meanwhile, Aaron Boone, the New York Yankees manager, was left largely impressed with the Austin Wells show against the Tigers. He said he has no doubt about Wells’ catching abilities. “I’ve been so impressed with how good of a catcher I think he’s becoming,” said Boone. The skipper also added how Wells’ offensive resurgence is a step in the right direction for the latter to transform into a complete player. Notably, Austin is slated to catch regularly alongside Jose Trevino for the upcoming MLB season. His September heroics were more than enough to guarantee his spot on the roster. And the emergence of Austin Wells as a standout prospect provides a welcome boost to the team’s depth and potential for success. Overall, with Boone’s endorsement, Wells is poised to carve out a promising career in pinstripes.

Oswald Peraza Stays Out Of Yankees’ Plans With Shoulder Tightness

Yankees
Oswald Peraza. (Photo: MiLB)

In a massive setback, infield prospect Oswald Peraza is unlikely to make it to the opening-day roster in the aftermath of a shoulder injury scare. The 22-year-old was scratched off the lineup ten days ago and still hasn’t recovered, as per the latest update. Skipper Aaron Boone confirmed that Peraza’s injury is more serious than previously presumed.

The shortstop was sent for imaging to determine the root cause of the shoulder itchiness. But for the time being, Peraza will stay out of the Yankees’ opening-day plans. While he was slated to play the bench role, the recent injury has further cast doubt on how his future shapes up within the organization.

Stay tuned with Sports News International for more such updates about your favorite MLB team