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For the second time in three years, the Yankees used their first pick in Wednesday evening’s 2020 MLB Draft to take a catcher. With the 28th pick in a draft reduced from 40 rounds to five because of the coronavirus, the Yankees selected left-handed hitting Austin Wells from the University of Arizona and Las Vegas …
For the second time in three years, the Yankees used their first pick in Wednesday evening’s 2020 MLB Draft to take a catcher.
With the 28th pick in a draft reduced from 40 rounds to five because of the coronavirus, the Yankees selected left-handed hitting Austin Wells from the University of Arizona and Las Vegas high school powerhouse Bishop Gorman, where Bryce Harper once starred.
Two years ago, the Yankees drafted catcher Anthony Seigler in the first round (23rd pick) out of Cartersville (Ga.) High School. They followed that by taking catcher Josh Breaux in the second round from McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas.
Wells was the third catcher taken in the first round Wednesday. North Carolina State’s Patrick Bailey was selected by the Giants with the 13th pick and Tyler Soderstrom from Turlock (Calif.) High School went to the A’s with the 26th pick.
The Yankees also drafted Wells in the 35th round of the 2018 draft, He opted for college instead.
“We are very happy to get Austin Wells today,” said Yankees vice president of amateur scouting Damon Oppenheimer. “We thought he was one of the top hit-and-power combinations in the draft. We love his desire and makeup, along with his athleticism. We have known him for years and seen him progress quite a bit behind the plate to allow us to believe he can be an impact guy.”
Because they signed Gerrit Cole to a nine-year, $324 million contract last winter as a free agent, the Yankees don’t have a second- or fifth-round pick on Thursday, which is the second and final day of the draft. After making their third- and fourth-round picks, the Yankees can sign undrafted players for a maximum of $20,000 each.
As for Wells, the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder has drawn comparisons to the Cubs’ Kyle Schwarber (a 6-foot, 235-pound left-handed hitter) for his bat. Schwarber was a catcher at Indiana University before transitioning to the outfield after the Cubs took him in the first round (fourth pick) in the 2014 draft.
That could be the same path Wells takes because of his productive bat.
Jonathan Mayo, a former Post sportswriter and currently an MLB draft guru, believes Wells’ bat will turn him into a big-leaguer.
“The left-handed power will get him to the big leagues quickly,’’ Mayo predicted after the selection.
Playing in all 56 games for Arizona in 2019, Wells hit .353 with five homers and 60 RBIs. This past season, which was cut short by the coronavirus, Wells batted .375 with two homers and 14 RBIs in 15 games. He was a draft-eligible sophomore because he will be 21 within 45 days of the draft.
Wells was named the Cape Cod League Outstanding Pro Prospect in 2019 and was ranked as MLB’s 27th prospect.
With James Paxton, J.A. Happ and Masahiro Tanaka eligible for free agency and Luis Severino not expected back from Tommy John surgery until at least next June, the Yankees could have gone for a college pitcher to add depth but didn’t.
As for Seigler and Breaux, their professional careers have been hampered by injuries. Seigler has been limed to 54 games and suffered a fractured patella last year. Breaux missed three months last season at Charleston (Short-Season A) due to an elbow injury.
