In this year’s 2020 MLB Draft class, there are a few standout catchers. Current University of Arizona sophomore catcher Austin Wells is among that group. After concluding a great high school career at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, Wells was drafted by the New York Yankees during the 35th round of the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft.
Wells opted not sign with the Yankees and chose to honor his commitment to Arizona. Over that period of time, he has put together quite a list of accolades. In 2019, he was named the Cape Cod League Outstanding Pro Prospect. Additionally, he was named an All-Star and was a part of Baseball America’s First-Time Freshman All-American Team.
Wells measures six feet, two inches tall and weighs 220 pounds. He is currently the 27th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com. Even in the early part of this year, Wells was making himself known. Although the season was cut short due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Wildcats did play in 15 games. Over that span, Wells showed enough to be in consideration for the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award.
Strengths
One of the best things about Austin Wells is his bat-to-ball skills. Scouts note that Wells has a tremendous ability to hit the ball for power to all parts of the field. In both the hit and power categories, Wells has earned a score of 55 on the scouting scale. For illustration of that, over the 15 games played this year, Wells had a .375 batting average with 21 hits, two home runs, and 14 RBI. Furthermore, Wells concluded the 2019 season with a .353 batting average, 78 hits, five home runs, and 60 RBI.
Additionally, another quality aspect to Wells’s game is his ability to take a walk when it matters most. As scouts note, Wells does have high strikeout numbers (43 strikeouts over 221 at bats last year), but he exercises plate discipline. In the shortened season this year, Wells recorded 17 walks, recording a .527 on-base percentage. Last year, Wells put up 46 walks over 56 games.
In addition, another aspect to like about Wells game relates to health. Last year with Arizona, Wells played in all 56 of the team’s games as a starter before starting all 15 games this year for the team. To this point, the 20-year old Wells has not had any major injuries.
Weaknesses
Some scouts who are concerned about where Wells will end up defensively. He was a designated hitter during his senior year of high school, and there is some doubt that his catching skills will roll over to the big league level. One of the biggest reasons why is because of his throwing accuracy. Wells does great with his stroke and release, but struggles at times with where he throws the baseball, which is important to a catcher’s success.
As mentioned previously, strikeouts are another part of Wells’s game. While it is understandable given that Wells is still only a sophomore, it could potentially hinder him moving forward, especially as he faces tougher pitching. His bat still plays well, but if he can improve on his swings and misses, his plate discipline will become an even greater strength.
Finally, Wells receives a low grade (40) in the running category. This is natural as most catchers are not fast runners, but if Wells eventually needs a new position, this part of his game will need to improve. For example, if he were to transition into the outfield, his speed could impact his performance. This is in addition to his speed being an while running the bases.
MLB Comparison
The player that is the most comparable to Austin Wells is Kyle Schwarber of the Chicago Cubs. Schwarber comes in at approximately six feet, 235 pounds. So he is slightly shorter than Wells, but has a bigger body build. However, from a skills standpoint, there is quite a comparison between the two.
Schwarber came up through the Cubs farm system primarily as a catcher. As he progressed in his minor league career, he began to see more time in left field. That transition happened for Schwarber when he was 21. Depending on how Wells progresses, the same could be true. Furthermore, during the five seasons that Schwarber has played at the major league level, he has only been behind the dish 26 times.
Another very similar comparison between Austin Wells and Kyle Schwarber is that both bat left-handed and throw right-handed. Schwarber had a similar batting average to Wells with the Indiana University Hoosiers. For example, during the 2014 season right before Schwarber was drafted by the Cubs, he concluded the year with a .375 batting average over 216 at bats.
Final Thoughts
In the end, as with any college athlete there is some unknown about how their skill set will transition over to the big leagues. However, Austin Wells is still one of the better catching prospects in the 2020 MLB Amateur Draft class. Although he might not rate as highly as other catching prospects in the class like Tyler Soderstrom or Patrick Bailey, he still has plenty of talent.
If Wells is able to find a way to stick behind the plate, then he could be a very good signing for a major league team. Regardless, Wells has the athleticism to succeed in the big leagues at any position.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
