Perhaps this explains why, in these absent moments in the course of the winter when Aaron Boone thought of who may lead off for a workforce with out a pure leadoff hitter, he began to consider Austin Wells. In spite of everything, you don’t rise from rookie league to first-string catcher in 4 skinny years by spending life overwhelmed by moments.
Wells, from the second he first arrived right here in 2023, walked like he belonged right here. So it was when Boone approached Wells initially of spring coaching and informed him he was excited about making him a leadoff hitter, this was Wells’ response:
“Cool.”
And so it was that, seven weeks later, when he gave the Yankees their first lead of the season with a leadoff homer Thursday, first time in baseball historical past — as in ever — when a catcher hit a leadoff dwelling run on Opening Day, this was his response to that.
