Austin Wells and Tyler Hardman Talk Yankees’ Future

Austin Wells and Tyler Hardman sat down to speak with reporters prior to the Somerset Patriots game on Thursday, July 6.

Both players have been playing incredibly well.

Wells is hitting .250 with 12 homers and 47 RBI this year with Somerset, and the Patriots pitching staff is 24-9 with a 3.51 ERA when he is behind the plate.

Hardman was just named the Double-A Eastern League Player of the Week, after bashing five home runs in a four game stretch. He even hit three homers in a game against Bowie last week.

Both players were asked whether they feel they are ready to move up in the organization.

"I don't know. It's out of my control. I got to keep doing what I am doing," Wells said of a possible promotion.

Added Hardman: "Keep your head down and work hard. Sometimes you hit the ball and they catch it. Sometime the ball goes through.

"That's our goal the entire season when you are playing good or bad. I think no matter what the numbers are that is our goal here for sure."

Meanwhile, Wells was also asked about his friendship with Yankees short stop Anthony Volpe. Reports surfaced last month that Wells and Volpe were watching video of the short stops swings, with Wells making pointers to help his Somerset teammate.

"We were looking through video. It was small little things we noticed and it seemed to help him," Wells added. "It takes something nice and small to get back on track.

When asked about his thoughts of the Volpe-Wells "Chicken Parm" diners, Hardman cracked a smile, "I have heard a couple things about that. Rumors that a shirt might be made about it. It's fun to see something as small as that blow up."

The Patriots continue their series with the Reading Fightin' Phils this weekend at TD Bank Ballpark.