Yankees Draft: Austin Wells Highlights Will Get Bombers Fans Jacked Up

The New York Yankees selected Austin Wells with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.

For those of you not exactly tuned in to the lackluster five-round 2020 MLB Draft, we’ve got you covered. On Wednesday night, the Yankees used their first-round pick on Arizona catcher Austin Wells, and before any of you New York fans ask, “why did we draft another catcher?”, just take a look at this guy’s bat.

Wells slashed .357/.476/.560 across two seasons (71 games) with the Wildcats and won Pac-12 Freshman of the Year back in 2019 (he was the first Arizona player to capture the award and logged the best freshman season in school history). He hit a home run in his college debut. He dominated the Cape Cod League in ’19 too, slashing .308/.389/.526 with 23 runs scored, 7 home runs and 26 RBI in 42 games.

The left-handed hitter packs all-around tools as an offensive player. Just look at this sweet swing:

And in case his career doesn’t work out as a catcher, scouts believe he’ll work out just fine as a first baseman or corner outfielder. He’s been compared to Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber, so who can complain about that? Schwarbs didn’t work out behind the plate, and while he isn’t the greatest outfielder, the man mashes. He had a career year in 2019 and was a driving force in the team’s World Series win over the Indians.

Some might point to the fact the Yankees need pitching, and the decision to pass on Louisville ace Bobby Miller was a mistake. However, Wells, according to scouts, should reach the MLB quickly with his left-handed power bat. Additionally, it’s been said the 20-year-old plays with “Bryce Harper-like intensity,” which will excited pretty much any baseball fan.

It’s never a bad thing to have too many good hitters in your farm system, and general manager Brian Cashman has done just that by accruing an arsenal of such players.