Even before the first pitch of the season was thrown, Austin Wells and Yankees catching coach Tanner Swanson made a decision that had nothing to do with stats or scouting reports. They looked at each other, likely half-serious, and said: No shaving unless we lose a series. No exceptions. A beard pact was born—part superstition, part camaraderie, and fully bizarre in the best way possible.
At the time, it seemed harmless enough. A light-hearted dare to break up the grind of a long season. But here’s the twist: The Yankees just stopped losing. Since dropping a series to the Tampa Bay Rays in early May, they’ve reeled off seven straight series wins, and they’ve already taken the first two games of their current set against the Angels. The razors? Still collecting dust.
“I would prefer if he kept the beard,” Carlos Rodón joked about Wells. “But I understand. He seems to grow a beard within two days. So I guess if he shaves it, it really doesn’t matter because it’s going to show up pretty quickly.”
There’s something so perfectly baseball about this, turning facial hair into a rallying cry. And yet, it’s more than superstition. For Wells, a young catcher trying to carve out his place on one of baseball’s biggest stages, it’s become a symbol of rhythm, chemistry, and belief. These aren’t just beard-growing days, they’re streak-building days, and the vibes in the Bronx are loud.
What’s even funnier is how seriously they’re sticking to it. No matter how itchy or unruly the beards get, the pact remains sacred. Every series win means one more day without shaving, and one more layer of superstition fueling the fun. It’s clubhouse culture with a side of scruff, and right now, it’s working better than any game plan.
Austin Wells may not be the biggest name in the Yankees lineup yet, but he’s fast becoming one of its quirkiest good luck charms. And in a sport built on rituals and routines, that makes him dangerous in the best way. So until that next series loss comes, if it ever does, expect Wells to stay bearded and the Yankees to keep buzzing. Razor not included.
Catching fire: Austin Wells steps up behind the plate and in the clubhouse
When the season began, Austin Wells wasn’t penciled in as a clubhouse cornerstone. But fast forward to late May, and the Yankees’ young catcher is doing more than holding his own; he’s evolving into one of the most quietly valuable pieces on a surging roster. Whether it’s guiding a veteran rotation or delivering timely hits, Wells is showing poise that belies his rookie status.
Behind the plate, he’s gained serious trust from the pitching staff.
Gerrit Cole has praised his game-calling instincts, and Carlos Rodón recently noted how easy it is to “work with him back there.” Statistically, he’s made his presence felt, too.
Wells has thrown out 6 of 15 attempted base stealers (a 40% clip—well above league average), and his framing ranks in the top third of AL catchers, according to Baseball Savant. At the plate, he’s shown flashes of pop with a .252 average, 4 home runs, and a .780 OPS over his last 25 games, impressive production from a catcher still adjusting to big-league arms.
And it’s not just the numbers doing the talking, Wells is starting to sound like a guy who belongs. There’s a quiet conviction in the way he handles himself, a sense that he’s not just riding the wave but helping steer it. His teammates feel it. The coaching staff sees it. And he’s embracing the moment without overthinking it.
“Hopefully,” Wells said recently, “we don’t lose another series the rest of the year.” That’s not bravado, it’s belief. The kind that turns rookies into leaders and good teams into great ones. Austin Wells isn’t trying to be the loudest voice in the room. He’s just doing his job really well, and that’s speaking volumes.
If this is what his floor looks like, his ceiling could be something special, and the Yankees know it.
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