Austin Wells Is Not A Lead Off Guy

I’ve said it once, twice, 100 times here. Aaron Boone’s an idiot.

Austin Wells is not a leadoff hitter. Aaron Boone can push that narrative all he wants, trying to distract us from the fact that the Yankees gave up a legitimate bat in Gleyber Torres. But let’s be real—Wells isn’t that guy. He was a great college player, sure, but in the big leagues, he’s an okay hitter and a serviceable catcher. Like Anthony Volpe, he’s just… there. Nothing special. He gets some hits, plays decent defense, but he’s not quick, he’s not dynamic, and he sure as hell isn’t a leadoff man.

When I think of a real leadoff hitter, I think of guys like Ichiro, Rickey Henderson, or Devon White—players who found ways to get on base, who made things happen. And now we have Aaron “No Championships” Boone trying to convince us that Austin Wells is the answer? Please. Wells looks more like a dad playing slow-pitch softball than someone leading off for the New York Yankees. He doesn’t even pass the eye test.

Boone penciled him into the leadoff spot on Feb. 28, just to “see how it looked.” And somehow, he hasn’t moved since. The New York Post is hyping up his Grapefruit League numbers—.355 average, 1.122 OPS, three homers—but let’s not kid ourselves. Spring training stats mean nothing. Teams are experimenting, pitchers are working on mechanics, and the games don’t matter. But Boone, in all his wisdom, is acting like Wells is the solution.

The real answer is Jazz Chisholm Jr. He’s the spark this lineup needs. He plays with energy, gets on base, and can hit for power and average. Plus, he swiped 40 bags last year. When leading off in 2024, Chisholm hit .263 with three homers, four extra-base hits, and a better on-base percentage than Wells. Yet Boone is catering to a catcher—who, let’s be honest, is only really valuable for his defense.

What kind of clown show is Boone running? Wells is a good guy, sure, but he’s not a superstar. Even Jorge Posada was a better hitter, and no one ever thought of him as a leadoff guy. The Yankees have major problems this season, and guessing games at the top of the lineup won’t fix them. But that’s Boone for you—always making baffling decisions.

Mark my words: Wells won’t be leading off by May. He’s a catcher. His body will wear down, he’ll hit a slump, he’ll get tired, his body already takes a beating behind the plate and the Yankees will be forced to move him. Boone should know better—his dad was a catcher! But instead, he’s doubling down on nonsense, because that’s what bad managers do.

This isn’t the Yankees I grew up with. This team has embraced mediocrity and convinced itself it’s winning. It’s embarrassing.