Yankees rookie Austin Wells has impressed with his bat and work behind the plate

Austin Wells has played himself into American League Rookie of the Year contention, and it’s not just the Yankees who feel that way.

“Like him a lot,” one rival AL scout said. “Everything you’d want to see out of a rookie at that position he’s shown . . . definitely can hit.”

Wells, who even before Jose Trevino got hurt earlier in the season had begun assuming everyday catching duties, was drafted as a hit-first catcher, with questions regarding his defense.

There was plenty of speculation, inside and outside the Yankees organization, that Wells’ future, if he made it to the big leagues, would be somewhere other than catcher.

But Wells, the Yankees’ first-round draft pick in 2020 (taken 28th overall) out of Arizona, made defense a focus of his game starting with his first season in the minors, with Low-A Tampa in 2021.

It has showed.

Wells, part of the group of prospects called up Sept. 1 of last season, immediately impressed the Yankees — their pitchers, most importantly — with the progress he made defensively.

An offseason in which he continued drilling down on that side of the ball was evident from the early days of spring training, and by the midpoint of the Grapefruit League season it was apparent Wells would be making the club out of camp.

After that, it became more and more likely he would become the front-line catcher in 2024 sooner rather than later.

“The presence,” said one NL scout, a former catcher who saw Wells in the minor leagues. “You can see it. You saw it then. That position, especially there in New York], there’s a lot to it, and he passes every test. Defense is still a work in progress, but it’s night and day from when I first saw him [in the minors]. There’s a confidence in how he carries himself and you see his teammates respond [to him]. Whatever the ‘it’ is that we talk about with players, he’s got it.”

Added a second AL scout: “He’s an offensive catcher profile. Some of the little movements behind the plate, some of the throwing, needs polishing. But lefthanded, pull power in Yankee Stadium]? You can take some of the throwing miscues. He’s a decent receiver, too. And you see him getting better.”

Wells, who was not in Wednesday night’s lineup with the Royals throwing lefthander Cole Ragans, started the season slow at the plate but turned it on starting in mid-July, especially since being moved to the cleanup spot in the order. Wells entered Wednesday hitting .252 with 13 homers, 49 RBIs and a .779 OPS, but slashing .310/.372/.531 with six homers, 28 RBIs and 11 walks in 28 games since taking over full-time at cleanup.

Those numbers, plus Wells’ steady work behind the plate, have vaulted the 25-year-old into Rookie of the Year contention (the Yankees, it should be pointed out, have two such candidates as righthander Luis Gil is in that mix as well).

“It’s cool,” Aaron Boone said before Wednesday’s game. “And I think Austin is right at the top, or certainly worthy of it. He’s been outstanding. He’s been such a key cog in our lineup, in the middle of the order, and for the last few months really coming into his own as a hitter . . .

“And all the while doing it at such a critical position where I think he’s handled himself so well defensively. When you add in what he brings to the table hitting fourth in our lineup, it’s been a phenomenal rookie season for him, and we’ve still got a ways to go.”

Extra bases

Nestor Cortes, who threw 4 1⁄3 scoreless innings Saturday against the Cubs in relief of Clarke Schmidt, will start Thursday night against the Red Sox, the start of a four-game series. The lefthander will be followed by Schmidt, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon . . . The Yankees, in conjunction with Montefiore Einstein and Fans for the Cure, will host a free prostate screening before Thursday night’s game. Starting at 5:30 p.m., when the gates open, and lasting through the early innings, testing will take place in private booths on the 200-Level Concourse between the New Era Team Store and Section 223.