Maybe Wells Should Rank Hits Instead Of Burritos

So let me get this straight.

Austin Wells has enough free time to bring back his famous burrito rankings… while he’s in the middle of one of the worst offensive seasons by any regular catcher in baseball? Click here.

Really? Fans saw Wells post another enthusiastic burrito review this week, handing out a glowing 92/100 to a Philly cheesesteak breakfast burrito. Good for him. But Yankees fans aren’t hungry for breakfast content—they’re starving for production.

The question has to be asked:

Why the hell is Austin Wells concentrating on burrito reviews when he’s almost out of a job?

That’s not personal. That’s reality. As of today, Wells entered the weekend carrying a shocking .166 batting average, the lowest among all Major League hitters with at least 220 plate appearances. His on-base percentage and OPS also rank near the bottom of baseball. Yes, he homered Saturday against Philadelphia, but one swing doesn’t erase four months of offensive frustration.

The Yankees have remained patient because Wells continues to provide value behind the plate. His pitch framing, game-calling and defense are still respected throughout baseball.

But this is the New York Yankees. Defense alone doesn’t guarantee playing time forever.

The clock is ticking. With the trade deadline approaching, reports continue to connect the Yankees to catching help, including Minnesota’s Ryan Jeffers. The organization clearly understands that they may need more offense from the catcher position if they’re serious about making a postseason run, or they hear us fans screaming about it.

Whether that help comes via trade or from within the organization later this season, the pressure on Wells is obvious. He’s no longer playing from a position of security. 

The dude needs to read the room. Look, nobody is saying Wells can’t enjoy life away from the field. Players deserve hobbies. But perception matters.

When your batting average is sitting at .166 and fans are watching strikeout after strikeout, posting celebratory burrito reviews isn’t exactly the message supporters want to see.

Maybe that’s unfair. Maybe the burrito posts have nothing to do with his preparation. But fans aren’t grading breakfast burritos. They’re grading at-bats.

The Yankees desperately need more from the catcher position. Whether it’s Wells rediscovering the hitter everyone believed he’d become, a deadline acquisition, or another catcher forcing his way into the picture, something has to change. Because if the Yankees want to play deep into October, they can’t continue getting historically poor offensive production from one of the most important positions on the field.

Austin Wells gave that burrito a 92.

Right now, Yankees fans are giving his season something much lower and rightly so.