J.C. Escarra credits wife for keeping his MLB dream alive

NEW JERSEY- J.C. Escarra is a perfect example of being rewarded for never giving up. At 29 years old, Escarra finally made his big league debut this season with the New York Yankees.

After being released by the Baltimore Orioles before the 2022 season, he never made it past their Class AAA affiliate, the Norfolk Tides. The Orioles had him playing strictly first base despite the fact that he caught for the majority of his games at Florida International University from 2014-2017.

Escarra always viewed himself as a catcher even though he has also played third base and occasionally in the corner outfield. That is not to say he was unwilling to play other positions because he was determined to do whatever it took to carve a path to Major League Baseball. 

J.C. Escarra came close to quitting baseball altogether. Two years ago he worked three jobs just to make enough to pay his rent. He was an Uber driver, a substitute teacher and a baseball coach. 

Circuitous route to the Bronx

Escarra took his talents to the independent Atlantic League, American Association, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. From 2022-2023 he played in four different leagues, showing just enough to stay in professional baseball. 

“It definitely was God and especially my wife,” Escarra said at a recent autograph signing at Mama Dee’s Empanadas in Parlin, N.J. “I took on three jobs just to get the opportunity to keep on playing. Shoutout to her and my family for the support and here we are.”

Moreover, Escarra was rewarded before the 2024 season with a minor- league deal with the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers were his favorite team growing up. He looked up to fellow Cuban American first baseman Tino Martinez. 

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Escarra got his love for the Yankees from his father, who moved to Yonkers, N.Y., once he left Cuba. Escarra, who was born in Hialeah, Fla., started the 2024 regular season at Class AA with the Somerset Patriots. He was promoted to the Scranton RailRiders in the second half of the season. 

He also played in LIDOM in the Dominican Republic with Aguilas. J.C. Escarra won the batting title this past winter with a .363 batting average in 113 at-bats. 

He was added to the Yankees’ 40-man roster this offseason. Then he capitalized by winning the backup catcher’s job out of spring training. In a promotion that became one of the best viral moments of the spring, the Yankees named Escarra to their Opening Day roster on March 22. 

“There have been so many good moments,” he says. “But the one that stands out to me the most is being on the line for Opening Day, the National Anthem, and getting my name called. I got goosebumps.”

J.C. Escarra off to good start

Escarra’s defense has earned rave reviews within the Yankees’ organization. His game-calling was masterful against the Detroit Tigers when he caught Max Fried’s season-high, 11-strikeout game on April 9.

“Amazing. I mean a guy with six different pitches,” he said. “It makes my job easy because I can call whatever because I know that he’s going to execute his pitch.”

On the offensive side, J.C. Escarra recorded his first MLB hit with an RBI double against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 3. It was also fitting he got his first RBI with another double at Yankee Stadium against the San Francisco Giants on the day of his autograph signing. 

Escarra wants to inspire all people going through difficult times. He wants his story to inspire others to follow in his footsteps, even if it’s outside of baseball.

“You can’t quit,” he says. “You have to keep going and keep working hard. Two years ago I was an Uber driver. Look at me now catching for the New York Yankees.”