"It's a lot of fun" - Catcher Austin Wells enjoys hitting cleanup for the Yankees behind Aaron Judge and Juan Soto

Austin Wells, the catcher for the New York Yankees, has been enjoying his opportunities at bat in the middle of the lineup. He has been hitting in the cleanup position behind Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.

Wells, who is frequently put in the fourth position in the batting order by Yankees manager Aaron Boone, expressed his delight with his position.

His impact with a bat has quickly been felt and he is seen as one of the promising talents of the Yankees. Wells was picked in 2020 during the MLB Draft.

In the YES Network interview after the triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, he expressed his thoughts about playing at the fourth position.

"It's a lot of fun and just being in the lineup, really just a blessing, being able to be a part of it and get to hit behind two of the best hitters in baseball, it's a lot of fun," said Austin Wells.

The fact that he bats cleanup shows how much confidence his team has placed on him. Wells therefore has many opportunities to hit around these MVP-caliber players. This helps him drive runs in and take advantage of chances made by players ahead of him.

"Yeah, it's awesome. Definitely a lot of very good players who played on the team. So that's cool to hear. He (Posada) was a great catcher and a great hitter for the Yankees for a long time, so that's really cool," Austin Wells said.

His passion for his role with the Yankees is palpable, and his performance showed it. The young catcher set the best July slugging percentage by a Yankees player since Jorge Posada in 2007.

Austin Wells' role has strategic implications for the Yankees. While Judge and Soto are frequently the focus of the pitchers’ attention, Wells often finds himself in situations where he can exploit mistakes or drive in runs.

This dynamic adds depth to the Yankees' batting order, making it more challenging for opposing teams to navigate.

Austin Wells praises Michael Tonkin's versatility in Yankees bullpen

Yankees catcher Austin Wells praised Michael Tonkin after the team’s win over the Phillies on Tuesday night. Tonkin, who pitched the final two innings of the game, has been a reliable asset for the Yankees.

"Tonkin has been great for us. He’ll come in any situation. He doesn’t care, and he’s gonna throw the same and try to get outs,” said Austin Wells.

Wells also pointed out how much value Tonkin has had for the team due to his ability to perform under various circumstances.

When needed in the fifth or extra innings, Tonkin is reliable, providing crucial relief in tight spots. In particular, Tuesday night’s 12th-inning performance was regarded as a significant contribution.

According to Wells' statement, it is quite useful to have one such dependable reliever like Tonkin who calmly executes pitches. He has made a significant difference for the Yankees' bullpen strategy.