Volpe’s Struggles Overshadow Wells’ Hitting Woes for Yankees

The difficulties faced by Anthony Volpe this season have inadvertently drawn attention away from Austin Wells‘ performance issues at the plate for the New York Yankees. According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the spotlight on Volpe’s offensive struggles has obscured concerns about Wells, who has seen a notable decline in his hitting metrics.

Wells has experienced a significant regression this season, with both walk and strikeout rates trending negatively. Sherman highlighted that among players with at least 400 plate appearances in the last two seasons, Wells’ walk rate fell by 4.7 percentage points from 11.4 percent to 6.7 percent, marking the second-largest decline. His strikeout percentage surged by 5.3 points, from 21.0 percent to 26.3 percent, the seventh-largest increase in the league.

Wells’ 2025 Season Performance

While Wells’ overall numbers for the 2025 season may appear similar to those from 2024, closer inspection reveals troubling trends. He finished the season with a slash line of .219/.275/.436, hitting 21 home runs and driving in 71 RBIs. Comparatively, in 2024, Wells posted a line of .229/.322/.395, with 13 homers and 55 RBIs. Although his power numbers saw an increase, the decline in his on-base percentage raises concerns. Sherman noted that Wells’ expected weighted on-base average (wxOBA) decreased from .339 in 2024 to .302 in 2025, while his wRC+ fell from an above-average 107 to 94.

Future Prospects for Wells

One positive aspect for Wells is his proficiency as a pitch framer. The 26-year-old ranked in the 96th percentile among catchers this season, achieving 11 framing runs, consistent with his performance in 2024. If Wells can maintain his defensive capabilities, the Yankees may not require him to be a dominant offensive player, especially given the team’s depth in generating runs.

In contrast, Volpe’s struggles are more concerning due to his drop in defensive performance this season. While the Yankees hope for Wells to evolve into a more complete offensive threat, he is still capable of being a solid starting catcher at his current level. The team faces challenges, but Wells’ defensive work could mitigate some of the impact of his hitting difficulties.

As the Yankees navigate this season, fans and analysts alike will keep a close eye on both Volpe and Wells as they seek to regain their form on the field.