An unexpected name appeared in the Yankees’ lineup against the Cardinals on Wednesday, as Austin Wells made his spring debut ahead of schedule.
The catcher found himself batting fifth for the exhibition at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Wells’ inclusion in the order came as a surprise, as Aaron Boone had said the 25-year-old wouldn’t play in spring games until March 1, “give or take.”
Wells, meanwhile, had said he wasn’t going to play in games until “probably the week after they start.” The Yankees’ spring slate began on Feb. 21.
On Wednesday, Wells told the YES Network that he has been feeling good in live batting practice and that he wanted to catch the afternoon’s starter, Will Warren. Wells went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI, while Warren struck out four over three scoreless innings.
The Yankees had been taking things easy with Wells following a heavy workload last season. A rookie in 2024, Wells played in 115 games and logged 872.1 innings during the regular season. Then the Yankees’ campaign extended to the World Series, creating a short offseason.
Wells, who did not swing during the first several days of live batting practice, has said that he’s healthy.
“It’s just how much [he] played down the stretch and having never been down the stretch,” Boone previously said. “I’ve told him I want to slow-play it a little bit, so let’s move accordingly.”
Wells totaled 13 homers, 55 RBI and a .718 OPS last season before finishing third for Rookie of the Year, an award that batterymate Luis Gil won. However, the backstop hit just .111 in September before batting .120 in the playoffs.
Boone has noted that Wells was a bit banged up at the end of last season — most catchers are at that point — and wondered if some fatigue contributed to his struggles.
Wells, however, has shied away from such reasoning.
“Definitely wasn’t happy with how it ended for me,” he said. “But I don’t know any better to say that it was a fatigue thing or not. So I’m gonna go with no. I’m just gonna go with it was just part of the year, but I’m definitely feeling good and ready to roll.”
NOLAN ARENADO MAKES THE TRIP
Veterans often skip road trips — especially long ones — during spring training, but the Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado ventured from Jupiter to Tampa prior to Wednesday’s game.
No, it wasn’t because the third baseman was looking to audition for the Yankees, nor was it because the Cardinals wanted to dangle to trade candidate in front of the Bombers. Instead, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold reported that Arenado made the trip Tuesday night so that he could spend the evening with some friends, including the Yankees’ DJ LeMahieu and Paul Goldschmidt. Arenado was teammates with LeMahieu in Colorado and with Goldschmidt in St. Louis.
Goold added that Arenado also wanted to stay on his ramp-up schedule.
COLE’S DEBUT COMING UP
Gerrit Cole’s spring debut is coming up, as the Yankees’ ace is scheduled to start against the Blue Jays on Friday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Cole recently threw live batting practice to a group of Yankees hitters that included Aaron Judge. Guest instructor Roger Clemens watched after sharing some mechanical advice with Cole.
“He really liked the foundation,” Cole said. “I mean, it’s gotta get better, but it’s in a good spot.”
COUSINS SET TO THROW
Jake Cousins is set to start throwing on Monday, according to the New York Post’s Greg Joyce. The right-hander reported to camp with a forearm strain and has been shut down for nearly five weeks, but recent imaging left the reliever encouraged.
That said, Cousins will not be ready for Opening Day, creating a vacancy in the Yankees’ bullpen after the 30-year-old enjoyed a breakout season in 2024.
