NEW YORK — Jose Trevino had a huge smile on his face while making a rare appearance at his locker in the Yankees’ clubhouse on Sunday afternoon.
The catcher hasn’t played in two months after undergoing season-ending right wrist surgery, but he had nothing but positive news to share.
“I feel really good where I’m at,” Trevino said. “In a couple of weeks, I’ll be hitting … I’m excited for spring.”
Trevino expects to be completely ready for camp next February. He’s been working with a hand specialist, ramping up in his rehab back in his home state of Texas since the procedure in late July, repairing a wrist injury that he had been dealing with since spring training.
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That was the hope all along for the 2022 All-Star and Platinum Glove Award Winner. The Yankees were bracing for Trevino to be shut down for much of the first half of the season, knowing that the glaring dip in his production was a result of him being compromised.
If he can continue to take steps forward this winter — he only needs to wear the brace on his right wrist when he’s around big crowds — Trevino will be in position to reassume his role as the Yankees’ starting catcher. That means one of the three backstops on the Yankees’ active roster — Kyle Higashioka, Ben Rortvedt and prospect Austin Wells — will join him in pinstripes next spring.
Trevino was asked about Wells, the favorite from that bunch to stick around in 2024 and beyond. The veteran praised the youngster for his presence, commending him for his ability to handle adversity. Wells is hitting .170 since being promoted at the beginning of this month, but he’s demonstrated how much his defense has improved behind the plate.
“He’s young, he’s still got some learning to do, but I think he’s been doing an awesome job,” Trevino said. “Obviously, I haven’t been here much, but watching on TV, it’s pretty good to see, it’s exciting to see for sure.”
Watching on television is how he’s consumed most of the Yankees’ second half, rooting his teammates on from afar. His only complaint — other than not being able to suit up — is that YES Network and other broadcasts cut away from the main angle of home plate, keeping Trevino from keeping an eye on intricate details between the pitcher and catcher.
“I don’t get quite the best view of some things,” he said with a smirk. “Sometimes you just hear some voices and they cut off to a face and you’re like, ‘Dude, no, I want to see what’s going on, stay on it!’ So I don’t know, maybe that’s something that the YES Network can put on their app or something, where it’s just like ‘Home Plate View for Trevi.’”
That comment was made in reference to a string of questions about the season ace Gerrit Cole is having. Trevino was effectively Cole’s personal catcher before landing on the injured list. He wishes he was able to be the right-hander’s batterymate over these last few months — a responsibility passed on to Rortvedt — but he’s confident that Cole will receive the first Cy Young Award of his career for the way he’s pitched all summer long.
“We know what’s coming and it should happen, he deserves it,” he said. “It’s been fun. I wish I could have stuck with it the whole time, but for him to do what he’s doing, it’s really cool to see ... He’s hungry. They show him on TV all the time in everybody’s ear, that’s him 24-7. He wants to win a World Series, he wants to do his best. And that’s just Gerrit. That’s what he brings to the table.”
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Max Goodman may be reached at mgoodman@njadvancemedia.com.
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