Yankees catcher Austin Wells' Dominican heritage comes as a surprise to some.

Yankees receive hopeful prediction regarding Austin Wells' 2026 season due to WBC performance originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Austin Wells had the best reaction after the Dominican Republic trounced Korea in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic.

When Luis Severino talked to his wife following the Dominican Republic’s one-sided win over the Netherlands, his performance wasn’t the topic of conversation. She wanted to talk about Austin Wells’ home run.

Austin Wells smashed the game-winning home run and unbeaten Dominican Republic advanced to the World Baseball Classic semi-finals with a 10-0 romp over South Korea on Friday.

Team USA got past Canada and now faces the powerful Dominican Republic in a semifinal clash on Sunday night.

Born and raised in the United States, Austin Wells is another international player on the Dominican Republic roster in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. However, his eligibility to represent the Caribbean nation is fully supported by the tournament’s rules.

The favorites prevailed during last night’s World Baseball Classic quarterfinals, as Team USA defeated Canada, 5-3, and the Dominican Republic handed down a whooping on South Korea that became mercy-rule clinch on an Austin Wells three-run homer.