Acce s the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees. TAMPA Manager a number of in-house hitters becoming the Yankees leadoff hitter this year. On Friday, Austin Wells received his first crack at hitting first and made it count. Wells, who is a realistic if untraditional option to emerge as the No. Kira Lewis Jr. Jersey 1 hitter, needed just two pitches to a sert that he feels comfortable in the spot. In his first at-bat atop the order, the young catcher golfed a 1-0 fastball from righty Jake Blo s over the right field wall for his first home run of the spring to begin Fridays 6-3 win over the Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field. Ive never really led off ever in my life, Wells said after the 1-for-2 night. It was fun to do that today. Explore More Boone has plenty of leadoff options (partially because he does not have any surefire fit after Gleyber Torres walked in free agency) in a lineup that is still taking shape. Austin Wells hits a solo home run in the first inning during a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 28, 2025. Getty Images Aaron Judge is just about locked in as the No. 2 hitter, and Cody Bellinger is the front-runner to hit third, where he batted Friday and added his own first-inning home run. Last season , and he could jump from Judges protection (after Judge typically batted third in 2024) to Judges table-setter. The slow-footed Wells is not the throwback vision of a leadoff guy and will not steal many bases, but he fights through at-bats, has a good knowledge of the strike zone and most importantly can get on base. Austin Wells is entering his second full MLB season with the Yankees. Getty Images You never know here, Boone said of a leadoff Wells. Its something I would consider. Ive liked Jazz [Chisholm Jr.] there. Especially against right-handed pitching, I could absolutely see that being a thing. Through 94 games last season, that saw him climb out of the bottom of the lineup and into the middle of the lineup. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! The then-rookie tired down the stretch in his first full season as a major league catcher and as he played nearly every day, his OBP just .217 in September. If a better rested and performing Wells arrives this season, he could grab the everyday leadoff job or serve in the role against opposing righties. Austin Wells gives a thumbs up as he comes out of Fridays game. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Chisholm, switch-hitting Ja son Domnguez and perhaps Bellinger also could fill that role. If Boone opts for a platoon atop the lineup, there are worlds in which righties Anthony Volpe or DJ LeMahieu (if he turns back the clock) would get looks hitting first against lefties. To me it doesnt matter where Im at, Wells said, just as long as Im in the lineup. Darius Miller Jersey