The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Yankees pick Arizona catcher Austin Wells in first round of MLB draft
The Yankees picked power-hitting catcher Austin Wells out of the University of Arizona Wednesday night in the first round of the MLB amateur draft. The 20-year old was considered the best left-handed hitter remaining in the draft when the Yankees picked at No. 28.
The Bombers were familiar with Wells, having picked him in the 35th round of the 2018 draft out of high school. He chose to go to Arizona instead, but was able to come out for the draft after his sophomore season since he will turn 21 within 45 days of the draft.
The 6-foot-2 Wells was picked for his bat. He slashed .308/.389/.526 in the Cape Cod League last summer using a wood bat. He had just 15 games with the Wildcats this season before the coronavirus shut down baseball across the nation. He continued to crush in that limited time, hitting .375/.527/.589.
Wells was considered a solid bat across the board, but he lasted in the draft so long because there is debate about his defense. Though the same size as current Yankees’ catcher Gary Sanchez, there are scouts who believe he will not be able to stick at catcher.
The pick was something of a surprise with the Yankees expected to once again go with a college pitcher with the first of their three picks in the draft.
But it was an unusual draft from the beginning.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred opened the coronavirus-shortened, fiveround draft by addressing the current state of the game and the nation. Opening with comments about the systemic racism that is sparking protests across the nation, several of the GMs stood with signs that said “Black Lives Matter, United for Change,” in the offices that they were socially distancing and making their picks.
There is only one black general manager in MLB.
The draft also took a moment to remember George Floyd, the unarmed black man killed at the hands of the Minneapolis police that sparked protest movements across the nation, at 8:46 p.m., the amount of time that former officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd’s neck.
Manfred also said before the draft began that there would “100%” be baseball this year amidst reports that the league was preparing a counteroffer to the union’s latest proposal — 89 games with expanded playoffs. Many, however, believe that the owners will simply run out the clock on the negotiations until all that can be salvaged of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season is the 50 games that Manfred has threatened to implement under the agreement with the players made in March.
After that, however, the league turned to its future, which seems bright with power-hitting Spencer Turkelson being taken by the Tigers with the overall first pick. The draft was also short, with just five rounds this season as the owners try to save money amid expectations that the league will contract minor league baseball. Usually a 40round prospect-palooza, this draft, which continues Thursday night, will have just 160 players total selected, compared to the 1,217 drafted last season. That is estimated to save teams $30 million.
The Yankees had just one pick Wednesday night, 28th, the second to last pick in the first round. With the limited draft, the Yankees have just two more picks when the draft continues on Thursday night.