Yankees Catcher Austin Wells to Play for Dominican Republic in WBC

Wells' Dominican heritage allows him to represent the powerhouse national team.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells, who was born in Scottsdale, Arizona and attended high school in Las Vegas, will be playing for the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Despite not being from the Dominican Republic, Wells is eligible to represent the national team due to his mother's Dominican heritage.

Why it matters

The World Baseball Classic is a prestigious international baseball tournament, and the Dominican Republic is traditionally one of the strongest teams. Wells' participation will add depth and talent to the Dominican roster as they look to compete for the championship.

The details

Wells' mother, Michelle, is of Dominican descent, with both of her parents being from the Dominican Republic. This allows Austin Wells to suit up for Team D.R. under the WBC's eligibility rules, even though he was born and raised in the United States. Wells attended the University of Arizona, where he played college baseball before being drafted by the New York Yankees.

  • The 2026 World Baseball Classic is scheduled to take place in March 2026.

The players

Austin Wells

A catcher in the New York Yankees organization who will be representing the Dominican Republic national team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic due to his mother's Dominican heritage.

Michelle Wells

Austin Wells' mother, who is of Dominican descent and allows her son to be eligible to play for the Dominican Republic national team.

Greg Wells

Austin Wells' father, who met his wife Michelle while they were both attending the University of Arizona.

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What they’re saying

“It's a great honor to be able to represent my mother's country and play in the World Baseball Classic. I'm excited to be a part of the Dominican team and compete against the best players in the world.”

— Austin Wells (Sporting News)

What’s next

Wells will join the Dominican Republic national team for training camp ahead of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, which is scheduled to take place in March 2026.

The takeaway

Austin Wells' unique heritage allows him to play for the powerhouse Dominican Republic national team in the World Baseball Classic, adding depth and talent to their roster as they aim to compete for the championship.