MINNEAPOLIS — Of all the positions the Yankees expected to get consistent offense out of coming into this season, catcher was not exactly one of them.
And if a backstop from their tandem was going to be making an impact offensively, most would have predicted it would be Austin Wells.
And yet, there was Jose Trevino, complementing his typically strong defense with a nice surprise from his bat through the first month and a half of the season.
After popping a pair of home runs in Sunday’s win over the Rays, Trevino entered Tuesday’s series against the Twins batting .293 with a 125 OPS-plus in 25 games.
“Trevy continues to do it on both sides,” manager Aaron Boone said.
First and foremost for their catchers, the Yankees put a premium on defense and the way they impact the pitching staff.
Trevino has certainly provided that, grading out as one of the best framers in the game, with pitchers repeatedly praising the veteran for his work with them.
But if the Yankees can at least get some steady offensive production from their catchers, it will only make a strong lineup even deeper.
After a quiet first two weeks, Trevino was batting .368 with a .972 OPS and only three strikeouts over his last 19 games entering Tuesday.
“Just having a plan of attack and going out there and executing it,” Trevino said.
Trevino’s four home runs in 25 games are the same amount he had in 55 games last season, and his 14 RBIs are one shy of his 2023 total.
He hit just .210 with a 56 OPS-plus last season before he underwent season-ending wrist surgery in July for an injury that he had been dealing with since spring training.
Along with better health this year, Trevino has also improved his plate discipline.
Coming into Tuesday, he had recorded a 26.2 percent chase rate (league average was 28.4), down from his 37.3 percent in 2023 and 40 percent in 2022, according to Baseball Savant.
“I think he’s doing a better job of controlling the zone,” Boone said. “He’s not going out of the zone as much as he has in the past. I think that’s an area of growth for him that you can see. I think he’s gotten into some good matchups and taken advantage. But he’s having consistent at-bats. I feel like he’s through the middle of the field with his approach and that’s freeing up when you get a mistake to put one in the seats.”
Trevino, who has also been one of the Yankees’ best at hitting with runners in scoring position (batting .316), pointed to a “long process of working hard” to improve his control of the zone.
“It didn’t come overnight,” he said. “Just trying to hone in on my pitches and whatever else I want to hit.”
The Yankees’ catching tandem has worked well so far, with Boone deciding who starts each night based mostly on the matchup with the opposing starter.
That has helped the right-handed hitting Trevino stay fresh and get into some better matchups, including starting against all but one left-handed starter the Yankees have faced this season.
Wells, meanwhile, has gotten off to a slower start, though there has been some bad luck included in that, as his underlying metrics have been encouraging.
The rookie has started to see some better results of late, batting .333 with a 1.012 OPS over his last 10 games through Monday.
“We have a ton of confidence in both guys,” Boone said. “Really feel good about whoever we have in there that game and whatever matchup I like. And then what they’re both doing behind the plate with the pitching staff. I’m very pleased with them and that position.”
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