Austin Wells made MLB history Thursday, becoming the first catcher ever to hit a leadoff home run on Opening Day as the Yankees topped the Brewers 4-2 at Yankee Stadium.
Wells crushed a 2-0 fastball into the front-row seats in right field to give New York an immediate 1-0 lead. The blast wasn’t just a first for catchers — he’s also the first Yankee in franchise history to lead off Opening Day with a homer.
“I think it’s cool,” Wells said after the win in The Bronx.
Well(s) that was quick
The first #OpeningDay home run comes off the bat of Austin Wells pic.twitter.com/0HZ3tGk6cj
— MLB (@MLB) March 27, 2025
The Yankees needed a new leadoff hitter after Gleyber Torres’ departure this offseason. Anthony Volpe struggled in that role last season, and while Jazz Chisholm was another option, the Yankees clearly want his bat in the middle of the order.
Wells earned the spot with a blistering spring training, hitting .348 with six homers, 12 RBI and a 1.183 OPS in 16 games. He’s expected to lead off in most games, though veteran Paul Goldschmidt might take that spot against lefties — an arrangement the Yankees tested late in spring.
The second-year catcher finished third in Rookie of the Year voting last season and came into camp determined to build on that success.
“We’ve seen it all spring,” captain Aaron Judge said. “He came into camp ready to go, he had an impressive spring training and today he came here and set the tone for the whole day for us.”
That tone-setting moment couldn’t have come at a better time for a Yankees team facing plenty of questions coming out of spring. Wells’ historic trot around the bases sparked exactly the kind of fast start they needed.
