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Yankees' Austin Wells belts first spring home run before WBC exit
Observations from the Yankees spring training on Saturday.
Published on Mar. 3, 2026
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In his last game before leaving for the World Baseball Classic (WBC), Yankees prospect Austin Wells hit his first home run of the spring, a no-doubter off Blue Jays minor league pitcher Nate Garkow. Meanwhile, fellow Yankees player Fernando Cruz, who is also headed to the WBC, had some command issues in his relief appearance, issuing a pair of walks that loaded the bases, but he was able to get out of the jam unscathed with a double play.
Why it matters
The Yankees are closely watching their players' performances in spring training as they prepare for the upcoming season, especially those who will be participating in the WBC. Wells and Cruz's outings provide insights into the team's depth and the development of their young talent.
The details
In the sixth inning of the Yankees' 5-1 spring training win over the Blue Jays, Austin Wells crushed a no-doubt home run off Nate Garkow, a Blue Jays minor league pitcher. Later, Fernando Cruz, who is also headed to the WBC, had some command issues in his relief appearance, walking two batters and loading the bases, but he was able to escape the jam with a double play.
- On February 28, 2026, Austin Wells hit his first home run of the spring training.
- On February 28, 2026, Fernando Cruz had a relief appearance for the Yankees.
The players
Austin Wells
A Yankees prospect who hit his first home run of the spring training before leaving for the World Baseball Classic (WBC).
Fernando Cruz
A Yankees player who is also headed to the WBC and had some command issues in his relief appearance, but was able to escape the jam with a double play.
Nate Garkow
A Blue Jays minor league pitcher who gave up the home run to Austin Wells.
Davis Schneider
A Blue Jays player who was at the plate when Fernando Cruz tried to get a pitch flipped from a ball to a strike via the ABS (Automated Ball-Strike) system.
The takeaway
The Yankees' spring training performances, especially from their young prospects like Austin Wells, provide valuable insights into the team's depth and the development of their talent as they prepare for the upcoming season and the World Baseball Classic.
