Austin Wells, like many of the high-profile rookies who have joined the Yankees, began his career with a number more suited for the NFL than for the majors.
Wells wore No. 88 as a rookie before switching to his current 28, much like Jasson Domínguez went from 89 to 24. Will Warren still sports No. 98, and reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil has 81.
So how did Cam Schlittler, slated to make the 10th start of his major league career on Friday against Toronto, end up with the major-league-looking No. 31 as soon as he was called up from the minors?
“I don’t know,’’ Schlittler said of the mystery. “They pulled me into an office and were going through some numbers and said, ‘Does something in the 30s work?’ I’d been in the 30s before, so I said it sounded good.”
