Austin Wells, who is just days away from reporting to New York Yankees camp to begin preparations for the upcoming MLB season, has reportedly decided to play for the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, a move that caught some by surprise.
A report from Josafat Pérez on X confirmed the Yankees catcher’s decision. “Austin Wells has changed his mind. Following the birth of his daughter, with everything in perfect health, he has decided to participate with the Dominican national team,” the analyst wrote.
Pérez also highlighted why Wells’ commitment could be key for the Dominican Republic at the WBC: “Quick metrics: a defensively solid catcher, strong framing, pop time close to 1.95 seconds, and a caught-stealing rate around 30%. On top of that, he adds a left-handed bat, which is valuable for lineup balance in a short tournament.”
Wells key behind the plate for the Dominican Republic
With Wells joining the roster, he would replace Agustín Ramírez and serve as one of the two catchers for the World Baseball Classic alongside Yainer Díaz, who also brings MLB experience. Díaz has spent four seasons with the Houston Astros and has appeared in 100-plus games per year consistently since 2023.
The Dominican team would still need a third catcher, though it remains unclear who that will be. That decision is expected to be revealed when the official roster is made public. However, according to a report from Moisés Mejía on X (@moisesmejiah), the third catcher is expected to come from the Dominican League rather than MLB.
Last season, Wells posted a .219 batting average, the lowest mark of his three professional seasons with the Yankees. Still, he was highly productive in terms of power and run production, finishing with 21 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 88 hits, his best totals to date in each of those categories.