Is Austin Wells Making A Case For American League Rookie Of The Year?

The New York Yankees have an unlikely hero who has played himself into the American League Rookie of the Year conversation.

Austin Wells has been one of the best rookies in baseball this season while providing the Yankees with solid production. The catcher has a 2.7 WAR with 13 home runs, 49 runs batted in, and a .780 OPS in 100 games. He started the season as the team’s backup at the position but quickly took over the everyday duties after Jose Trevino was injured in early July.

He drove in four runs in the team’s most recent win against the Kansas City Royals. Wells went 2-5 with a home run and a double in the Bronx Bombers’ 10-4 victory.

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The Yankees have slotted Wells in as their cleanup hitter. He has batted behind Aaron Judge and has been a solid offensive threat in the heart of the team’s batting order. Wells has the third-highest slugging percentage and OPS on the roster while also slugging the fourth-most homers this season.

BetMGM has Colton Cowser as the betting favorite (-1100) to win the AL Rookie of the Year award this year. Wells slots in with the second-best odds at +700.

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Cowser has been an everyday outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles this season. He has 20 home runs and 62 RBIs while having 2.3 wins above replacement.

Wells is only outdone by two AL rookies in WAR this season. Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela both have 2.9 wins above replacement for the Boston Red Sox.

Wells and the Yankees play their next game on Tuesday night against the Royals.

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Casey Fahrer is a recent graduate from Syracuse University and a contributor to Inside The Pinstripes. He can be reached at caseyfahrer716@gmail.com.

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