For the first time in his brief major league career, Austin Wells was out of the starting lineup Tuesday.

But the young catcher was still busy shadowing Ben Rortvedt and Gerrit Cole in meetings.

Cole has shown a proclivity toward personal catchers and has worked predominantly with Rortvedt in the past six weeks, but manager Aaron Boone signaled that he wants Wells to catch the Cy Young candidate at some point over the last month of the season.

“Going through all those preparations and things will be important,” Boone said of Wells’ pregame work with Cole and Rortvedt. “He’s going to eat it up.”

Wells was called up Friday and started all three games — all wins — in Houston, where the Yankees were impressed with how quickly he acclimated to the team’s staff.

Carlos Rodon, Luis Severino and Michael King praised the 24-year-old for his work behind the plate and behind the scenes, getting up to speed on their arsenals and opposing hitters in a hurry.

Wells, a first-round pick in 2020, has come through the system with a reputation as a strong, disciplined hitter but also with questions about both his arm and his defense — questions he hopes he is answering. Wells threw out the only Houston runner who tried to steal a base on him, and his mind and work ethic have been praised.

“Honestly, I’ve been really excited with what we’ve seen the last few days from Austin,” Boone said. “Preparation, intelligence, presence. Connection already with guys and especially the pitching staff.”

Catching Cole, who is chasing a Cy Young award he has never won and is demanding of his catchers, might be the last item for Wells to check off this season.

Thus far, the Yankees are encouraged by Wells’ aptitude.

“That’s one of the things that stands out about Austin: his thirst for the little stuff, within the game, which is important to have for a catcher,” Boone said. “You got to love the preparation that’s hard work sometimes. A lot of tedious work. A lot of video watching. A lot of paying attention to what’s going on and taking the game plan that’s there and incorporating your own thoughts.

“The early signs are that he’s a rat for that kind of stuff.”

The Yankees honored retiring Tigers legend Miguel Cabrera with a tribute video and several gifts before the game.

Aaron Judge and Severino presented Cabrera with a large, 161st Street Subway station sign that the entire Yankees team signed.

Boone and several Venezuelan players and coaches — bench coach Carlos Mendoza along with Oswald Peraza, Oswaldo Cabrera and Everson Pereira — presented the Venezuelan Cabrera with a $10,000 check for his foundation.

Venezuelan Gleyber Torres then handed Cabrera a commissioned painting of Cabrera hitting a home run off Mariano Rivera.

The Yankees held a moment of silence before the game for George Rose, an executive adviser and former Japanese translator. Rose, 57, died Aug. 27 in Pennsylvania.

Outfielder Billy McKinney (left lower back spasms) ran sprints in the outfield before the game.