World Classic 2026: Why is Austin Wells playing with the Dominican Republic?

The catcher born in the United States has been one of the most striking names on the Dominican team so far in the World Baseball Classic.

“Every day I feel more Dominican,” were the words with which Austin Wells, catcher for the Dominican Republic and the New York Yankees in MLB, opened the press conference following the victory by knockout of the Dominican team against South Korea, on the night of Friday, March 13.

Wells, who took the honors as the most outstanding player of the game from his teammates, which symbolizes putting on the “Flow Jacket” that the Dominican Republic has been using in their home run celebrations and later to recognize the most outstanding players in the locker room, was responsible for hitting the three-run home run that ended the game against South Korea. Despite not having a celebration similar to that of many of his teammates, his excitement with the public could be seen while he toured the bases.

The catcher has quickly won the affection of the Dominican public, who have baptized him with the nickname “El Primo”, because “all Dominicans have a cousin in New York.”

Hence the question arises: why, if Wells was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, is he wearing the uniform of the Dominican Republic?

It turns out that Wells is the son of an American father and a mother of Dominican descent. His mother, Michelle Wells, whose maiden name is Fernández, is the daughter of parents (the recipient’s grandparents) natives of the Dominican Republic. Wells’ maternal family can be traced back to San Francisco de Macorís, San Pedro de Macorís and La Romana.

In accordance with the eligibility rules of the World Baseball Classic, a player who can demonstrate direct ancestry belonging to one of the participating countries is eligible to represent it during the event. This is the same case for the Dominican team captain and third baseman, Manny Machado, who represents the country despite also being born in the United States.

Another who at the time was also eligible with the team for the same reason was reliever Dellin Betances, who is credited with the phrase: “The Dominican is born wherever he wants,” something that becomes evident in the case of Wells.

“The opportunity to represent my family and the Dominican Republic is something that I will never forget and I hope to have the opportunity to do it again,” Wells said at the aforementioned press conference.

Wells, for his part, has been adopting the Dominican culture as his own, to which he may not have been fully exposed while growing up, although he himself made it clear in an interview that he visited the country with some frequency to see his grandparents when he was a child.

In any case, Wells’ inclusion is allowed by the rules of the event, which is why he had the opportunity to be part of the team. “Glory to God. What what and glory to the morisoñando,” were the three phrases that Wells said after the game to his teammates, which proves that, as he expressed in that press conference, he feels more Dominican every day.