**Summary: Austin Wells Makes History as Yankees’ Lead-Off Catcher**
Austin Wells, the New York Yankees catcher, made history on opening day by becoming the first catcher to bat lead-off in Yankees history and the first catcher to hit a lead-off home run on opening day in MLB history.
### Historic Opening Day Performance
**Who:** Austin Wells, 25, New York Yankees catcher
**What:** Became the first catcher to bat lead-off and hit a lead-off home run on opening day
**When:** Thursday, during the Yankees’ opening-day game
**Where:** Yankee Stadium, New York
**Why:** To contribute significantly to the Yankees’ offense, especially with key players injured or lost to free agency
In his first at-bat against Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta, Wells was ahead in the count at 2-0. He swung at a high fastball and sent it into the first row of the right field stands, giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
### Wells’ Performance and Expectations
– Last season, Wells finished third in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
– He ended the 2023 season with a .229 batting average and 13 home runs.
– Wells is expected to step up as a major contributor this season, especially after the Yankees lost Juan Soto to the New York Mets and Giancarlo Stanton started the season on the injured list.
As of the latest update, the Yankees were leading 2-1 against the Brewers in the bottom of the third inning.
### Conclusion
With such a remarkable start to the season, can Austin Wells maintain this momentum and become a key player for the Yankees in 2024?
**FAQs:**
**Q: What historic achievement did Austin Wells accomplish on opening day?**
A: Austin Wells became the first catcher in Yankees history to bat lead-off and the first catcher in MLB history to hit a lead-off home run on opening day.
