
Yankees’ Austin Wells drawing rave reviews for work behind plate: ‘Just gets better’
NY Post
OAKLAND, Calif. — Austin Wells’ bat had cooled off some through the first three weeks of September.
His work behind the plate had not.
The Yankees rookie catcher drew rave reviews for his work with Gerrit Cole in Friday’s 4-2, 10-inning win over the A’s, having a hand in helping the ace cruise through a nine-inning, two-hit gem at the Coliseum.
“He’s been great for us,” Cole said. “He came in with a good foundation already, and he just gets better and better the more he plays.”
Cole is one of the game’s best at reading hitters’ swings and adjusting his plan of attack from there. Veteran catcher Jose Trevino is also adept at the skill, which is part of why that battery has had so much success together.
But Wells has come into his own in that regard, an important development with his bat being so important to the Yankees lineup as their regular cleanup hitter.

Of course this is not 2018, this deadline does not represent a sea change in philosophy resembling that one. But, just as seven years ago, the hierarchy — different general managers, same CEO — is not homing in at making a run at eighth place at the expense of acquiring future assets in exchange for expiring contracts.