Austin Wells' inconsistent September will not affect his minutes or his No. 4 hitter in the lineup when the Yankees' playoff run begins Saturday night.
Aaron Boone said he isn't going to let a poor stretch affect his thoughts on the rookie catcher.
“I feel like in those little changes, you're seeing a really mature hitter emerge,” the Yankees manager said Friday, on the eve of the ALDS series against the Royals. “So this is one at-bat, but it goes back to that at-bat that we made.” [Cionel] Perez [of the Orioles] For me, that at-bat in that game set us up.
“I feel like he swung the bat well all week. I think the week off probably helped him. I feel like he had some good live at-bats this week. But I I have a lot of confidence in the presence he brings there.”
In September, Wells posted a poor slash line of .111/.217/.194, with only four extra-base hits and a dismal .411 OPS.
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Even though Wells played in a career-high 115 games, the Yankees did not believe it was due to attrition.
Wells said he wasn't tired either and felt he had to do a better job of containing pitchers' pitches.
“I think I probably did too much at the end of the season and took away from the things that made me successful,” Wells said.
Furthermore, he added: “I think over the past week or so, my at-bat has gotten back to where it feels like it should be. I feel good.”
Maybe this vacation will also be useful for him.
The 25-year-old backstop had a strong year before struggling late in the season.
He was expected to be a candidate for AL Rookie of the Year.
He posted an OPS of .936 in August, .941 in July and .769 in June.
Overall, Wells had 13 home runs, 55 RBIs, and a .718 OPS in 354 at-bats, providing a left-handed power bat that separated right-handed mashers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in the middle of the lineup.
Now, a new season begins.
Wells expects the stadium to be “very loud and very exciting” and is ready for it.
“I can't wait. I'm excited,” he said. “Playoff baseball, let’s go.”
— Additional reporting by Greg Joyce
