When the Yankees reported to spring coaching in mid-February, Aaron Boone gave an sincere reply when requested who his leadoff hitter could be.
“I don’t know,” the supervisor replied. Boone added that he might see six or seven names within the function, although it was laborious to give you that many logical candidates after Gleyber Torres vacated the job and signed with the Tigers.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., Jasson Domínguez and Anthony Volpe all made for affordable, if imperfect, choices, and Cody Bellinger’s identify got here up a number of days later. Nonetheless, the Yankees had been a pair decisions wanting Boone’s headcount.
Now weeks eliminated, an unconventional applicant seems like a pure within the function.
That might be Austin Wells, who has batted first in his final seven begins getting into Wednesday. The left-handed swinger, who has began eight complete video games this spring, is hitting .364 with three homers, six RBI and a 1.209 OPS. All three of his dingers, together with the one he launched on Monday, have led off the sport.
A catcher, Wells doesn’t have the construct or legs of a prototypical leadoff hitter. However he will get on base, which Boone not too long ago known as his “No. 1 criteria for the leadoff spot,” per MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
Whereas Chisholm and Volpe have the pace historically related to the leadoff spot, getting on base hasn’t been their calling card. Chisholm has carried out so at a .311 profession clip, whereas Volpe hasn’t even cracked .300 in his first two skilled seasons.
Wells, who spent most of final season batting cleanup, recorded a .322 on-base proportion as a rookie in 2024. He additionally hit .229 — not the common one needs within the leadoff spot — with 13 homers and 55 RBI.
The Yankees additionally might not need their leadoff man to steal as a lot with Aaron Decide doubtless hitting within the two-hole. That wouldn’t be a lot of a priority with Wells beginning issues off, whereas hitting decrease within the lineup would let Chisholm, Volpe and Domínguez maximize their pace with out worrying about operating into outs with the reigning MVP on the plate.
To this point, Boone has talked about Wells batting first as if it’s an experiment, not one thing he’s dedicated to simply but. That mentioned, the 25-year-old is getting loads of runway main off — and he’s appeared good doing it.
Volpe led off probably the most for the Yankees final 12 months (76 begins), however it was Torres (56 begins) who introduced stability to the function within the second half following an early-season stoop. Alex Verdugo, who stays a free agent, hit first 17 occasions.
If Wells had been to steer off through the common season, it will be a franchise first. No catcher in Yankees historical past has ever began a recreation on the prime of the lineup, that means Wells is positioned to do one thing the likes of Jorge Posada, Yogi Berra, Thurman Munson, Invoice Dickey and Elston Howard by no means tried.
Whereas no Yankees’ receivers have led off, there have been catchers recognized to do it. Longtime Pirates backstop Jason Kendall did it probably the most — 463 occasions — whereas Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus tried a handful of occasions throughout his 18-year profession.
Newer examples embrace Mitch Garver, John Jaso, J.T Realmuto and Russell Martin.
