Yankees Catcher Injury
Yankees Place Catcher Austin Wells on 10-Day IL with Cervical Headaches Amid Slump
The New York Yankees placed catcher Austin Wells on the 10-day injured list with cervical headaches just before a rain-delayed home series opener against the Boston Red Sox. Wells, who has been a regular behind the plate, is in a prolonged slump, hitting .166 with four homers and seven RBIs in 47 games, and the Yankees said the timeline for his return is uncertain. J.C. Escarra was recalled from Triple-A to provide left-handed depth, with Ali Sánchez also activated to catch as New York reshuffles its lineup and looks to stabilize production. The injury extends a Yankees stretch already affected by captain Aaron Judge’s fractured right rib, leaving New York second in the AL East and 1.0 game behind Tampa Bay. The moves also highlight the Yankees’ willingness to adjust at catcher while they weigh potential help at the trade deadline. Separately, Giancarlo Stanton, recovering from a right calf strain, took additional at-bats as he continues his return progression.
Key Points
The Yankees’ move came as a surprise to manager Aaron Boone, who “had not mentioned any health issues involving Wells,” and the team noted cervical headaches can be caused by “a cervical injury or a condition such as arthritis.” The club also designated Wells for the 10-day IL but said it would have the option of lengthening the stay if he isn’t deemed ready to return.
For the catcher shuffle, J.C. Escarra was recalled from Triple-A less than a day after being optioned following the Yankees’ Friday-night 5-3 loss to Boston, and Ali Sánchez was selected from the RailRiders as New York’s first right-handed catching option since 2024. The report also detailed Sánchez’s ability to throw out base stealers: 28% (12 of 31) in Triple-A before the call-up.
Beyond the season line (.166 with four homers and seven RBI), Wells’ recent performance was even worse: he was 0-for-3 in the series opener vs. Boston and was “hitless in his last 13 at-bats and 1 for his last 18.”
The Yankees’ offensive woes behind the plate were reflected in advanced hitting metrics: Yahoo Sports reported Wells was at a .533 OPS, described as “the worst among Yankee regulars,” and he struck out 45 times in 145 at-bats (clutchpoints noted the strikeout rate).
Giancarlo Stanton’s calf rehab went beyond batting: after taking four at-bats while seeing “about 10 pitches,” he also ran in the outfield—starting from the right-field foul line area to behind second base—and then ran past first base a few times while beginning around halfway up the foul line.
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