TAMPA — Gerrit Cole threw his first dwell batting follow of spring coaching Wednesday and had a brand new backstop in tow.
Austin Wells caught the reigning AL Cy Younger winner for his 36-pitch outing after working with him for the primary time in a bullpen session earlier this week.
“It was enjoyable,” Cole mentioned. “Uneventful.”
That’s sometimes a superb factor for a battery, marking a superb first impression for Wells, who started the relationship-building course of with Cole final September throughout his late-season call-up.
Wells didn’t catch Cole in any respect that month — Ben Rortvedt served as his catcher, with Jose Trevino on the injured checklist — however hung out choosing his mind and “making an attempt to be as attentive as potential” when Cole was on the mound.
That course of has continued early this spring, with Wells making an attempt to get a greater really feel for why Cole desires to throw which pitches in sure counts.
The 2 are anticipated to get extra work collectively, particularly with Trevino lacking the primary week or two of Grapefruit League video games due to a calf pressure.
“Gerrit’s made a degree to need to get with [Wells] a little bit bit down right here, particularly early,” supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned. “However yeah, I believed it went fairly seamless.”
Trevino — identified for his preparation and top-notch work with pitchers — continues to be more likely to catch Cole on most events in the course of the common season.
However having Wells construct a basis with the ace this spring is vital, particularly as a result of his bat has the potential to make the Yankees’ lineup even deeper in the course of the season.
“For the place we’re at now, the perfect factor I can do is be ready,” Wells mentioned. “Doing as greatest I can to be ready to name the pitches and when the scenario will get tight, not having to guess which pitch to name, that’s vital. I believe that’ll make extra pitchers on the employees belief me and need to throw to me. That’s my aim.”
![Yankees catcher Austin Wells catching a pitch from Gerrit Cole during a simulated game, at Steinbrenner Field on Wednesday.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/88-catching-pitch-gerrit-cole-76915683.jpg?w=1024)
There have been questions on Wells’ protection throughout his rise by means of the minor leagues, however he went a good distance in making an attempt to reply them throughout his call-up final September.
“He’s type of come up and — I by no means noticed him unhealthy,” Cole mentioned. “I believed instantly, his game-calling was distinctive. He got here proper in towards the Astros … we received the sequence and he caught all of the video games. He’s clearly actually clever and bodily was stable. Good catcher.”
Wells was appreciative of the reward.
“It provides me confidence and the extra I catch him, the extra confidence that I’ve too, simply to have the ability to assist be the battery with him and be there to assist information him and him information me as properly,” Wells mentioned. “I’m wanting ahead to persevering with that relationship and persevering with to construct hopefully his belief.”
Nestor Cortes mentioned he was feeling good Wednesday a day after throwing 44 pitches in dwell batting follow, although he had the break day from throwing.