AUSTIN WELLS
Post columnist Steve Serby caught up with Yankees catcher Austin Wells for some preOpening Day Q&A.
Q: Have the doubters motivated you?
A: Yeah, absolutely. Since I’ve been drafted [28th overall in the 2020 first round], it’s always been about my catching. That’s really put a chip on my shoulder and kind of lit a fire under me. It’s not like I’m out there reading about it, but
you hear about it all the time whether you want to or not, and that’s the power of the media nowadays. When it’s been such a continual negative about how I am as a catcher, it only just fires me up to want to be the best I possibly can. So where I’ve gotten to the point now and the progress that I’ve made had been not only the success of the hard work that I’ve put in with my coaches, but the fire that’s been lit under me since I’ve been drafted about being adamant about being a catcher.
Q: A catcher has to be a psychologist at times. How do you go about gaining the trust of your pitcher?
A: For me, I learned over the years that being as prepared as possible for the pitchers, is how you gain their trust. Because you know their stuff, and you know the hitters you’re facing, and I think the more that they get to throw to you and they trust that you’re prepared to call the pitch, the more they’re gonna have conviction and intent behind what you call. And I think that’s just really how you gain their trust over time, and obviously relationships in the clubhouse and all that stuff adds to it.
Q: The history of Yankees catchers. What do you recall about Jorge Posada?
A: Growing up, I wasn’t really a Yankees fan, but always knowing that Jorge Posada was one of the best catchers arguably in Yankee history and baseball. That was a great guy to get to be able to watch growing up, and I definitely was a fan of his game and how he played. He played with passion and fire, and getting to watch that as a young kid, I think that’s special.
Q: What do you know about Thurman Munson?
A: I never got to see him play, obviously, but I just hear great things about what he was able to accomplish in his young career. I like what people have said about him in that I would like to be someone compared to that. Being able to be among the ranks of a guy like that, I think that’s be a great honor.
Q: How about Yogi Berra?
A: I just actually watched his documentary on Netflix. They gave a lot of great background stories to him being able to serve [our coountry], and then be able to play. You can’t get better than that, I think 10 World Series, right? Ten World Series, a couple of MVPs, Yankee catcher ... I mean, I think that sounds pretty good.
Q: Joe Torre was in uniform Monday.
A: He’s a legend in the game, and having him come out there to take Carlos out and even to be on the mound with him, very special. There’s not many words that can describe that.
Q: What part of your game do you think you’ve made the biggest strides in?
A: Receiving. I think being able to receive has become such an important part of the game over the last few years, and here at the Yankees, we have the best coaches that are in the game, really. We have Tanner Swanson, who really started this whole thing, and we got Aaron Gershenfeld and Aaron Bossi, who are two key parts of making me who I am now as a catcher, and the focus really was receiving for me. And I think the steps that I’ve made every year have continued to allow me to get better.
Q: Where do you think you need to improve?
A: I’d like to continue to show improvement with throwing runners out. We made a lot of progress this offseason, and I’m looking forward to showing off a little bit here when the season gets going and trying to see some progress with that.
Q: How are you on framing?
A: I feel like I’m in a really, really good spot. The numbers are coming back really well. Everything’s trending up. I can attribute that to the work that was put in over the last few years, and this offseason especially.
Q: How tantalizing for you is that right-field fence at the Stadium?
A: Oh, I mean, I have to try to get myself to not look at it every day. ’Cause it creates (chuckle) bad habits, I think a little bit, so I just gotta stick to my swing. It feels like the fans and the stadium’s right on top of you out there. I love it, and I’m looking to spend more time getting to know it.
Q: Boyhood idol?
A: I would say probably my dad. In my baseball — this might not be great — but I loved Big Papi [David Ortiz] growing up . ... I think Big Papi was one of the reasons I loved the Red Sox so much. His lefty swing, watching him hit homers and watching him jog around the bases ... I feel like it would be hard not to root for him. Obviously the Yankees probably feel a little differently about that, but I was a young kid. It as a lot of fun.
Q: The 2004 Red Sox comeback from 0-3 to win the ALCS in seven games.
A: You know, you never know, but I think if the Yankees would have won, I might have been a Yankees fan. That’s like my first memory of watching baseball, and the Red Sox won and everything, so that’s how I kind of got onto the Red Sox as my favorite team.
Q: Four dinner guests?
A: Jesus; my grandfather [Luis Fernandez], who passed away; my parents.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Southpaw.” Q: Favorite actor? A: Jon Bernthal. Q: Favorite actress? A: Emma Stone. Q: Favorite singers/entertainers? A: Zach Bryan, Dua Lipa.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: It’s hard to miss out on a nice steak dinner with some mashed potatoes.
Q: Have you fantasized about Opening Day?
A: It’ll be hopefully my first Opening Day, and I’m looking really forward to just being out there and starting a journey . ... I’ve definitely been thinking about it for a while.
Q: What can you tell me about young Anthony Volpe and his parents?
A: They’re unbelievable. A second family to me. They truly are that when I say that. It’s not just words. They’ve welcomed me and many others into their life, and I couldn’t be more thankful for them and their support and allowing me to stay at their house when I was in DoubleA. You don’t run into people like them very often, and when you do, you try to hold on ’em for as long as you can. It’s just a testament to who Anthony is.
Q: You gave him some swing advice last year?
A: (Laugh) I don’t know about swing advice, but we were definitely watching some video of both of us playing back in Low-A together and just having fun. I think it kind of just turned into something like that, but he’s such a great hitter and so easily able to adjust.
Q: How hungry is this team for another championship?
A: I think it’s probably the most hungry ever, to be honest with you. It’s been since ’09 that the last time they have been [or] won. And I think as the years continue to go on, it just keeps growing. Coming into this spring and even before spring when we had a bunch of guys at the complex before spring training even started, that fired me up to see those guys and how they were working, and just the drive that they had, I think that that’s continued to carry on and will continue to carry on towards the end of the year.