The New York Yankees face ongoing challenges with Austin Wells’ performance this season, though a clear solution exists within the team. Despite Wells’ difficulties, manager Aaron Boone appears hesitant to make significant changes involving playing time. The Austin Wells Yankees dilemma remains a topic of concern as the club seeks a breakthrough during this crucial stretch of the 2025 season.
Wells’ Offensive Struggles and Impact on the Team
Austin Wells has delivered disappointing results so far, holding a .208 batting average and a .679 on-base plus slugging (OPS) through 308 at-bats. He has contributed 15 home runs and 56 RBIs but continues to struggle markedly against off-speed pitches. According to The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner, Wells owns the poorest batting average in Major League Baseball against sliders (.085) and sweepers (.045), a weakness that has hindered his overall effectiveness at the plate.
Ben Rice Emerges as a Viable Catching Option
The Yankees possess another catcher, Ben Rice, who has demonstrated superior offensive production and could potentially ease the strain on Wells. Primarily known as a first baseman and designated hitter, Rice’s capabilities as a catcher are gaining recognition within the team. Kirschner reports that the Yankees have been preparing Rice for increased catching responsibilities, a position not familiar to some outside the organization but one that has been nurtured behind the scenes.
At the beginning of the season, when Rice was mainly getting at-bats as the Yankees’ designated hitter and first baseman, catching coordinator Tanner Swanson said he believed Rice could start for at least a third of MLB teams,
—Chris Kirschner, The Athletic
Rice has recently caught more innings, including Will Warren’s pitching in the Yankees’ 7-2 win over the Minnesota Twins, signaling the team’s confidence in his defensive progress. Though his framing skills do not yet match Wells’, this may be due to limited experience rather than a lack of ability.
Comparing Offensive Numbers Between Wells and Rice
While Wells struggles with his production, Rice has maintained a more promising slash line of .235/.326/.463 with a .789 OPS through 324 at-bats, along with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs. Kirschner highlights an intriguing detail about Rice’s performance this season:
This season, no one in the majors has been more unlucky at the plate based on quality of contact than Ben Rice — except Juan Soto.
—Chris Kirschner, The Athletic
This suggests Rice’s offensive statistics might improve even further if luck shifted in his favor, making the case for expanded playing time behind the plate more compelling.
Manager Aaron Boone’s Resistance to Change
Despite the apparent benefits of giving Rice more starts at catcher, manager Aaron Boone has expressed reluctance to alter Wells’ role. Boone’s cautious approach raises questions about whether the team will fully utilize Rice’s potential to boost their lineup during this pivotal phase of the season.
Reducing Wells’ at-bats in favor of Rice could give the Yankees a spark,
Kirschner wrote.
However, Boone wasn’t interested in entertaining the possibility of that happening, quickly dismissing a question regarding Rice getting more playing time behind the plate. I don’t know. We’ll see,
Boone said.
Yankees’ Race for Playoff Position Intensifies
The Yankees’ schedule ahead remains challenging, with upcoming series against division rivals including the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, and Chicago White Sox. New York entered Tuesday six games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East standings and holds a slim one-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians for the third wild card spot.
With the team’s playoff hopes hanging by a thread, every managerial decision is under close scrutiny by a fan base growing increasingly frustrated. How Boone handles the Austin Wells Yankees dilemma in the coming weeks may well influence the trajectory of their season as they push to regain consistency and postseason positioning.