Austin Wells Set to Return to Yankees After Injury

Austin Wells has missed the last two weeks due to a neck strain, but is expected to rejoin the Yankees on Sunday.

Manager Aaron Boone mentioned on Saturday that Wells is “likely” to be in the starting lineup for the last game of the series against the Reds in the Bronx. He recently played three minor league rehab games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

In the aftermath of the Yankees’ 10-2 loss to Cincinnati on Saturday, where Ali Sanchez was at bat, JC Escala was sent down to SWB, leaving Sanchez on the roster for the time being.

However, simply reinstating Wells may not fix the Yankees’ ongoing difficulties behind the plate. Even before his injury, Wells was experiencing a notable offensive slump.

Among the 241 players with at least 160 at-bats who played Saturday, only three had a lower OPS than Wells’ .533.

While at SWB, he has been tackling adjustments to his approach and the Yankees are hopeful for an improvement in his performance.

Interestingly, Wells’ former teammate Jose Trevino pointed out that Wells is crucial to the Yankees’ success, even when his batting isn’t up to par.

“At the start of the ’24 season, we discussed how valuable his presence is,” said Trevino, currently with the Reds. “I have no doubts he’ll bounce back. He’ll hit a home run, make a defensive play, or call a great game.”

Trevino emphasized that Wells’ presence also significantly contributed to the team’s effective pitching.

“Look at our starters,” he said. “At the beginning of the year, when we had zeros on the board, who was calling those pitches? He coordinates everything. It’s easy to overlook that, but he’s a vital part of the team; they really need him.”

While Wells was sidelined, Escala struggled too, and Sanchez had made five hits over three games—but that didn’t solve the issues. Still, this duo allowed the Yankees to maintain a solid performance overall, particularly on the mound.

Before Wells’ absence, the Yankees had an ERA of 3.30, which placed them fourth in the majors.

Even after Wells was out, the ERA dropped to 3.27, good enough for second in the majors. The Yankees appreciate Wells’ skill in managing pitchers, especially with new technology in play, and some metrics place him among the league’s top players.

“That’s incredibly valuable,” Trevino remarked.

When asked whether defensive responsibilities take a toll on offensive output, Trevino suggested it could be a factor.

The Yankees recognize that Wells has the capability to generate more power with his left-handed swing. In his recent three games with SWB, he had two no-hit innings but also managed to hit two home runs.