MLB · 1 year ago

Yankees’ Catchers Turn the Tables: 2024 Season Brings Surprising Success

Sportsgrid Staff

Host · Writer

Defense Pops for Wells
Wells, currently in the 89th percentile for framing and the 78th percentile for Fielding Run Value (per Baseball Savant), has also developed a strong rapport with the pitching staff, positioning him to become a very good major league catcher. Given his solid track record with the bat in the minors, he's likely to start hitting again with a bit of improved luck.

In the meantime, Trevino has stepped up offensively in Wells' absence, helping the Yankees maintain their offensive momentum in 2024.

For a team like the Yankees, having a powerful, offense-first catcher isn't essential. Instead, as demonstrated in 2024, an elite defender with an average bat fits perfectly in their strong lineup – and having two such catchers is even better.

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Flipping the Script in New York
Entering the 2024 season, New York Yankees top catching prospect Austin Wells was expected to shoulder the offensive responsibilities for the backstops in The Bronx.

Meanwhile, veteran and Platinum Glove Award winner Jose Trevino was slated to mentor Wells behind the plate and offer a familiar presence for the pitching staff.

However, fast forward to mid-June, and it’s Trevino who is leading with the bat, while both catchers are performing exceptionally well defensively.

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Hard Luck for Austin Wells
Wells’ offensive start to 2024 has been rather unlucky. He is hitting just .207 with a .615 OPS through 40 games. In contrast, Trevino, who began the season much hotter at the plate, is currently batting .272 with six home runs in 44 games.

Although Wells’ numbers aren’t impressive, he has encountered some bad breaks at the plate. According to Baseball Savant, out of 39 catchers with at least 100 plate appearances, Wells ranks 38th in the difference between his wOBA and xwOBA, with a difference of -0.066. Expected (x)wOBA is calculated using exit velocity, launch angle, and, for certain batted balls, sprint speed to determine a player’s deserved offensive contributions per plate appearance.

Wells’ wOBA ranks 29th, while his xwOBA ranks 10th among that same group of catchers, highlighting just how "unlucky" his first full season in the majors has been. Hitters often experience periods where it seems like even their well-hit balls find the defense, and Wells appears to be in an extreme version of that situation.

Splitting time with Trevino means Wells isn’t a qualified hitter, but if he were, his 11.1% walk rate and 39.8% launch angle sweet-spot percentage would rank among the top 20% of batters in the sport. Combined with an average exit velocity and hard-hit percentage close to league average, his profile typically would result in one of the better-hitting catchers in the league.
Hot Start for Jose Trevino
On the other hand, Trevino, who was expected to take on a lesser veteran role this season, has delivered surprisingly strong offensive numbers. Among the same list of 39 catchers, Trevino ranks 13th in batting average (.272) and 16th in wOBA (.324).

Known primarily for his defensive skills, Trevino’s solid start at the plate has been a valuable addition to the Yankees lineup.

While his numbers aren’t among the league leaders like Adley Rutschman and Will Smith, they represent career highs for him in nearly every category. Trevino’s performance has been exactly what the Yankees needed from the catcher position to start the year.

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Strong Defense From Trevino
It would be remiss of me to discuss Wells' and Trevino's offensive starts without highlighting their stellar defensive play as well.

Both catchers boast impressive defensive numbers. Trevino has posted a 7.0 Def (defensive runs above average, per FanGraphs), ranking seventh among catchers, while Wells ranks 17th with a 4.6 Def.

This is expected from Trevino, who won the Platinum Glove Award in 2022. It's also a promising sign for the Yankees that his defensive prowess is rubbing off on Wells.

As Trevino approaches free agency this offseason, Brian Cashman and the Yankees' front office will likely look to Austin Wells to anchor the catcher position in The Bronx for years to come.
Defense Pops for Wells
Wells, currently in the 89th percentile for framing and the 78th percentile for Fielding Run Value (per Baseball Savant), has also developed a strong rapport with the pitching staff, positioning him to become a very good major league catcher. Given his solid track record with the bat in the minors, he's likely to start hitting again with a bit of improved luck.

In the meantime, Trevino has stepped up offensively in Wells' absence, helping the Yankees maintain their offensive momentum in 2024.

For a team like the Yankees, having a powerful, offense-first catcher isn't essential. Instead, as demonstrated in 2024, an elite defender with an average bat fits perfectly in their strong lineup – and having two such catchers is even better.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Flipping the Script in New York
Entering the 2024 season, New York Yankees top catching prospect Austin Wells was expected to shoulder the offensive responsibilities for the backstops in The Bronx.

Meanwhile, veteran and Platinum Glove Award winner Jose Trevino was slated to mentor Wells behind the plate and offer a familiar presence for the pitching staff.

However, fast forward to mid-June, and it’s Trevino who is leading with the bat, while both catchers are performing exceptionally well defensively.

Have all the intel you need? Free actionable info is one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter.

Yankees’ Catchers Turn the Tables: 2024 Season Brings Surprising Success

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