Austin Wells

Picked by the Yankees in the 35th round in 2018 out of perennial high school powerhouse Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, Wells instead chose to follow in his father Greg's footsteps by heading to Arizona. A draft-eligible sophomore, Wells posted loud numbers in both seasons with the Wildcats as well as last summer in the Cape Cod League. Wells has an outstanding approach at the plate with plus raw power, using a simple swing with good bat control. He walked more than he struck out both years at Arizona, impressive for any hitter but especially for a power hitter. A hole in his swing gives him problems with pitches away, but that’s a fixable problem. Wells' bat is impressive enough that most teams view him as a first-rounder, but questions remain as to where he fits best on the field. If he could stay behind the plate, he’d be a certain first-round pick, but there are more scouts who are skeptical of Wells’ receiving ability than think he can make it as a catcher. He has trouble blocking and receiving pitches, especially knee to knee on his glove side, and he has a record of elbow issues dating back to high school. An arm that once earned plus grades is now frequently below-average. Wells focused heavily on improving his defense over the offseason, but he didn’t have much opportunity to showcase the results in a shortened 2020 season. He’s seen time at both first base and all three outfield positions since leaving high school. Some observers believe Wells is athletic enough to handle the outfield and that his range and instincts can be developed, while others think he’s not twitchy enough for the outfield and doesn’t have the footwork for first base. He is an average runner. If concerns with his defense cause Wells’ draft position to drop more than expected, he's got the leverage to return to Arizona for his junior year. Lefthanded bats of his quality are typically highly sought after.