Five years ago, the Yankees drafted Austin Wells — and not much else

Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images Looking back at the shortened MLB Draft that at least gave the Yankees their catcher of the future.

The 2020 MLB Draft never had a chance of being normal by league standards.Taking place just three months into a global pandemic that shook the world to its core, the league was still scrambling to ensure that the 2020 season would happen at all, in any capacity.

Of course, we eventually got a 60-game regular season filled with chaos, controversy, a COVID-IL, outbreaks among players and coaches, cardboard cutouts in the stands where fans used to be, the Mets Amed Rosario hitting a seventh-inning walk-off home run against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium with everyone wearing No.

42 on a belated Jackie Robinson Day, multiple sub-.500 playoff teams, and a Dodgers World Series ring that fans still debate the legitimacy of to this day.With so much absurdity in the league and around the world, it was easy to forget that the MLB Draft even happened.

Five years later, its time to look back on one of the weirdest drafts in sports history.First of all, the pandemic resulted in the draft being shortened from 40 rounds* to just five.

This was a brutal blow to hundreds of prospects who never got to hear their name called on draft day, and it wasnt good for organizations looking to rebuild their farm systems either.

The 2020 Minor League Baseball season was lost entirely, which is probably why so many players selected at the top of the draft took longer than usual to find their footing or fell completely off the radar.

*Never again would the draft return to 40 rounds, as in 2021, the new 20-round format was introduced with MiLB overhauled and short-season A-ball leagues eliminated.The No.

1 overall selection for the Tigers, Spencer Torkelson, was considered one of the safest bats to come out of the draft in years but often struggled against big-league pitching until finally breaking out this season.

Heston Kjerstad, drafted second by the Orioles, is now in his age-26 season and has never been able to find a consistent role with the big-league club.

Kjerstad deserves a break as he developed myocarditis shortly after being drafted, but it doesnt look like hes ever going to return the value of a No.

2 pick.Also selected in the top 10, Max Meyer and Emerson Hancock have mostly been hit hard at the big-league level, Nick Gonzales is only now enjoying his first season as an above-average hitter, Asa Lacy and Austin Martin have been complete busts, Robert Hassell III and Zac Veen are no longer considered top prospects, and Reid Detmers is just starting to find success in the bullpen after a long trial-and-error process in the Angels rotation.

The big hits from this draft, Garrett Crochet, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Spencer Strider, were selected 11th, 19th, and 126th respectively.The Yankees had just three picks in this draft, as they forfeited their second- and fifth-round selections to sign new ace Gerrit Cole.

However, they were one of the few teams to land a player who has since become a consistent member of their starting lineup.With the 29th overall pick in the draft, the Yankees selected Austin Wells, a catcher from the University of Arizona.

In Wells first season as a Wildcat in 2019, he slashed .353/.462/.552 with five home runs in 277 plate appearances and more walks (46) than strikeouts (43).

In a shortened 2020 season, Wells played just 15 games with a .375/.527/.589 slash line and a similar BB/K ratio.

MLB Pipeline wrote about Wells prior to the draft, Without plus tools, Wells best selling point was his all-around package as a big strong left-handed hitter who can stay behind the plate.

If he can show teams his arm is fine, its the kind of skillset that is always in high demand.This scouting report has proven to be accurate, as despite some skepticism about his defense from other analysts throughout his time in the minors, Wells has developed into a well-rounded catcher with a serviceable hit tool, a decent amount of pop, and an elite ability to frame pitches behind the plate.

Hes served as the teams starting catcher for the past two seasons, finishing third in AL Rookie of the Year voting last year while generally recording slightly above-average production on offense and plus defensive metrics.

The Yankees have displayed a strong ability to develop catching prospects over the last few years, but Wells is still the top dog.Neither of the teams other two picks from this draft are still part of the organization, and neither have seen any time in The Show.

The most that can be said for New Yorks part is that they at least parlayed them into trade chips.In the third round, with the 99th overall pick in the draft, the Yankees selected Arizona States Trevor Hauver, a second baseman who has since moved to the outfield.

Hauver was hitting very well in Low-A in 2021, but he was included in trade that brought Joey Gallo to the Bronx at that years deadline.

Hauver is currently 26 years old and posting respectable numbers in Triple-A, though the versatile Josh Smith has proven himself to be the true prize of the deal.

Its possible that Hauver could see some time in Arlington at some point soon, but hes blocked at every position and doesnt seem to be forcing the teams hand.

The Yankees third and final player from the 2020 draft was Beck Way, a right-handed pitcher who went in the fourth round and was selected with the 129th overall pick.

A junior college pick from Northwest Florida State, Way lasted one year longer than Hauver, but at the next Trade Deadline, he was dealt alongside T.J.

Sikkema and Chandler Champlain to the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Andrew Benintendi.

Way has spent most of the 2025 season at Double-A, where he posted a 4.95 ERA and and 7.68 K/9 in 36 innings.

He was recently promoted to Triple-A, where hes made five appearances in a bullpen role with a 4.91 ERA.

Hes walked seven batters in as many innings, and has only struck out three.

Hes not anticipated to debut anytime soon.The Yankees may not have truly hit on either of their late-round picks (or on the players they dealt them for), but the development of Austin Wells into an everyday player makes this a successful shortened draft.

If Wells can continue to improve at the plate and behind it, picking him with the 29th pick will look more and more impressive.

The Yankees will try to pull off a similar heist on Sunday, as they hold the 39th pick in the 2025 MLB draft..

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