Why Austin Wells is playing for Dominican Republic in the WBC initially appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dominican Republic has a high-quality catcher on its roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Advertisement
It’s simply now who you would possibly first assume. It’s New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells.
Wells does not come throughout as a Dominican participant, and he is not from the D.R.
But because of his heritage, he is in a position to participate in the WBC for considered one of the event’s powerhouses.
MORE: This Mets phenom ate 900 raw eggs in a month to develop his 100 MPH fastball
Why is Austin Wells playing for the Dominican Republic?
Wells can go well with up for the Dominican Republic as a result of his mom is Dominican.
Advertisement
His mom Michelle’s mother and father are each from the Dominican Republic.
Because of that, the WBC eligibility guidelines enable Wells to go well with up for Team D.R. at the event.
Michelle and Wells’ father, Greg, met at the University of Arizona, the place Michelle was a gymnast and Greg was a baseball participant.
Is Austin Wells Dominican?
Austin Wells is not from the Dominican Republic.
Wells was born in Scottsdale, Arizona and he attended highschool at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas earlier than playing collegiately at the University of Arizona.
Advertisement
His Dominican heritage, although, is sufficient for him to be eligible by WBC guidelines, and so he is taking the likelihood to characterize his familial roots.
