NEW YORK — The New York Yankees made history by having a catcher bat in the leadoff spot for the first time ever on Opening Day. Austin Wells wasted no time in making an impact, hitting a leadoff home run on the third pitch of the game, giving the Yankees an early 1-0 lead over the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium.
“It was awesome, it was a really cool experience for myself not doing it ever,” Wells said after the game. “It was cool to hear the fans and just be the first batter of the season.”
Watch the video of Wells’ historic leadoff home run that set the tone for the Yankees’ season opener:
Wells is the first catcher to hit leadoff for the Yankees, a team that had never had a catcher bat in the leadoff spot before. This move was praised by Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who commended Wells for his performance and setting the tone for the team.
Catchers rarely bat leadoff due to their typically slower speed and lower batting averages. However, Wells’ strong performance last season, where he hit 13 home runs and finished third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting, made him a viable candidate for the leadoff spot against right-handed pitchers.
With a successful start to the season, the Yankees look to build on their 94-68 record from last year and aim for another shot at the World Series. The team had a rotating lineup at the leadoff spot last season, but Wells’ performance may solidify his position at the top of the order.
following sentence: “The cat ate the fish.”
“The fish was eaten by the cat.”