One simple tweak could transform Austin Wells into one of the most valuable Yankees

To say that Austin Wells' 2025 campaign was a frustrating one is an understatement. After showing off some serious on-base skills in 2024, fans were waiting for his power to show up and complete the picture in 2025. With Jose Trevino getting shipped out in exchange for Fernando Cruz, Wells seemed to have every opportunity to ascend, given his new role as the New York Yankees' unquestioned starting catcher.

That didn't really happen. Wells' walk rate fell from 11.4% in 2024 to 6.7% last season. While that was accompanied by more power — an increase from a .167 ISO to a superb .217 mark — the overall production was roughly the same, with the young catcher's OPS going from .718 to .712. Rather than a step forward, it was simply a rearranging of strengths.

This isn't to say that Wells hasn't had some value. He produced 3.5 fWAR in 2024 and 3.0 fWAR in 2025, with the majority of that value coming from his defense. It's ironic, considering that as a prospect, Wells was considered a complete offensive player with shaky defensive abilities.

That's exactly why Wells could be on the verge of a breakout, and why there is really just one thing he needs to change in order to make it happen.

With one tweak, Austin Wells could ascend to new heights in 2026, changing the way we think about the Yankees' lineup in the process

While it might look like inconsistency and stagnation on the surface, the underlying data tells a different story for the Dominican WBC team's backstop.

Wells hitting for more power in 2025 was no fluke. Check out the year-over-year changes in these key metrics that drove his growth.

The gains, especially in exit velocity and hard-hit rate, are significant. That tells you the rise from 13 homers to 21 from 2024 to 2025, as well as the increase in SLG from .395 to .436, was not a fluke and instead was a product of the 26-year-old consistently hitting the ball with more authority.

However, those gains were fully unlocked due to another change, this one in the negative direction. Wells' chase rate ballooned from 25.5% (70th percentile) in 2024 to 29.3% (41st percentile) last season. Not only did that account for the rise in strikeouts from 21% to 26.3%, but it also led to him making more contact with pitches outside of the zone, making it more difficult to take advantage of those gains.

So, while the strange circulatory issue that cropped up may have had some impact on his overall line, one would imagine that it would have had more to do with his quality of contact metrics instead of the regression in plate discipline he experienced.

Re-discovering that patience at the plate and combining it with the newfound hard contact could have a cumulative effect on his offensive performance. Not only would it revive his walk rate, but it would also likely increase his power production more, as he theoretically would be making contact with more pitches that are easier to drive.

As we learned from the nauseating Cal Raleigh-Aaron Judge MVP debate, having a catcher who can produce above average offensively, especially in the power department, is a rare thing. No one is saying Wells will transform into Raleigh, but if he can move into the realm of a consistently above-average bat, that has real value.

With that, the Yankees' lineup would be much more formidable. The way we think about things now, the entire bottom third is a black hole being carried by Judge. But if Wells can make this tweak and emerge as a consistent threat, it will not only lengthen the lineup but also provide additional insurance in case of injury or volatility from a player like Cody Bellinger, who has that kind of up-and-down history.

Austin Wells could be an incredibly important piece for the Yankees in 2026, and all it could take is one small tweak to have a game-changing impact on the club's chances to compete during this Aaron Judge window.