Yankees’ Catching Situation: Rice and Wells

Ben Rice is making a strong impression, both with his hitting and solid defense behind the plate.

Meanwhile, Austin Wells is struggling through another extended slump in the second half of the season.

Despite this, Aaron Boone mentioned on Monday that Wells will still receive most of the playing time as the catcher.

“I’m still picturing [Wells] getting more reps, but we’ll see,” Boone stated. The Yankees need to figure out a way to reignite Wells’ offensive performance as time is running out.

Since July 12, Wells has had just 11 hits in 78 at-bats, including four extra-base hits and 23 strikeouts. He played the last three games against the Red Sox, but aside from a strong showing against Tampa Bay last Wednesday, he hasn’t made much of an impact at the plate.

This scenario is shaping the Yankees’ catching dynamics, especially considering Wells had an OPS of .795 leading into September last year.

In the final month of the previous season, Wells struggled, posting an OPS of .411 in September and .460 during the playoffs.

His struggles appear to have continued into this year, with his performance declining significantly after a rather inconsistent season. Although his power at the plate is crucial, his on-base stats are falling short compared to last year.

Wells’ batting average of .207 ranks among the lowest in the league for players with at least 350 plate appearances, surpassing only that of the Dodgers’ Michael Conforto.

With Rice stepping into the catching role more frequently since July 31, following JC Escalera’s move to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, it’s worth considering how the Yankees will split time between these two players.

Rice has had a solid run this season, showing a .956 OPS after taking on more catching responsibilities.

“He works hard behind the plate, and I feel good about rotating him in there,” Boone asserted, though he acknowledged the challenges Rice faces while trying to maintain this level of play.

Boone described the catching situation as “fluid,” acknowledging the complexities of the current roster due to injuries.

“Everyone is a factor,” he noted about assembling that piece of the lineup. Giancarlo Stanton is now in right field while Aaron Judge is limited to designated hitter duty due to an elbow strain.

Moreover, the Yankees appreciate Rice’s versatility, as he can also play first base, providing an option for right-handed matchups against players like Paul Goldschmidt.

The team is also managing Anthony Volpe’s recent struggles; he missed the lineup for the second straight game on Monday but is expected back soon.

Last season, the presence of a healthy Judge and Juan Soto helped the Yankees overcome Wells’ difficulties at the plate and still reach the World Series.

Wells has developed into a commendable defensive catcher, perhaps surprising many. Yet, some scouts question whether he can remain behind the plate, suggesting that his focus on working with pitchers might be hindering his batting performance.

However, the responsibilities of catching seem to take precedence over his role as a hitter, a situation that doesn’t appear likely to change.