Yankees Catcher Ranked Outside Top 20 MLB Backstops

Austin Wells must improve in 2026 to be considered among baseball's elite catchers.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells, who is playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, was ranked as the 19th best starting catcher in MLB by Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter. Wells had a breakout 2025 season with 21 home runs, but his offensive numbers in other categories declined. A stronger 2026 campaign could help him crack the top 10 rankings next offseason.

Why it matters

As the starting catcher for the high-powered Yankees offense, Wells' performance is crucial for the team's postseason aspirations. The ranking suggests he has room for improvement to be considered among the league's elite catchers.

The details

Many evaluators doubted Wells' ability to stick behind the plate when the Yankees drafted him out of the University of Arizona, but he has proven himself as a capable defensive catcher with strong pitch-framing skills. However, his offensive numbers took a step back in 2025 despite a career-high 21 home runs. Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter cited Wells' rising strikeout rate and declining walk rate as areas he needs to improve.

  • Wells is entering his third full season as the Yankees' starting catcher in 2026.
  • He hit a career-high 21 home runs in the 2025 season.

The players

Austin Wells

A left-handed hitting catcher for the New York Yankees who is currently playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

Joel Reuter

A writer for Bleacher Report who ranked Wells as the 19th best starting catcher in MLB.

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What they’re saying

“Wells was a key cog in the highest-scoring offense in baseball last year, improving on his counting numbers after a 13-homer, 55-RBI rookie season in 2024. His power and receiving skills make him a two-way contributor, though his strikeout rate (21.0 to 26.3 percent) and walk rate (11.4 to 6.7 percent) moved in the wrong direction last year, and he enters 2026 with something to prove.”

— Joel Reuter, Bleacher Report Writer (Bleacher Report)

What’s next

A strong performance for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic could help boost Wells' stock heading into the 2026 MLB season.

The takeaway

Despite a breakout 2025 season, Yankees catcher Austin Wells still has work to do to be considered among the elite backstops in MLB. His ability to improve his plate discipline and continue developing his defensive skills will be crucial for the Yankees' postseason aspirations in 2026.