J.C. Escarra is in camp with the New York Yankees this spring, but the catcher and first baseman is not guaranteed to make the Opening Day roster. Most of Escarra’s professional baseball career has been full of uncertainty.
The Baltimore Orioles selected Escarra in the 15th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft. Still, after reaching as high as Triple-A Norfolk in 2021, the organization released the native of Hialeah, Florida, in April 2022.
Escarra played in the American Association in 2022 with the Kansas City Monarchs, and the 2022-23 Liga de Beisbol Roberto Clemente (LBPRC) winter season in Puerto Rico with the Leones de Ponce. Despite fairly productive hitting numbers that winter, the Texas Rangers, who owned Escarra’s independent league rights, denied the chance to add him to their minor league system.
The Cuban-American considered retiring from baseball. For four months, Escarra had no roster spot on any professional baseball team. During that time, he worked several jobs to help him and his wife Jocelyn pay their mortgage.
Escarra began driving for Uber in Miami but quickly realized the money he was making from the transportation company was insufficient. In February, he told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch that he couldn’t fathom how someone could make a modest living driving for Uber. He tried to add to his income by taking up substitute teaching, food delivery, and coaching positions in youth baseball.
“It didn’t end up paying much. I don’t know how guys do it,” Escarra told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch about driving for Uber. “I was wasting money, a lot of gas. People don’t tip. [The passengers] were happy with the rides, and I never got a complaint — [there were] a lot of old ladies that don’t drive, going to doctor’s appointments and stuff like that.”
In April 2023, Escarra signed a contract with the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball’s Gastonia Honey Hunters. Also, in the summer of 2023, he played with the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol’s Toros de Tijuana and Algodoneros de Unión Laguna.
During the 2023-24 winter league season, he played 38 games with the Leones de Ponce in the LBPRC and 13 games with the Algodoneros de Guasave in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico.
Escarra, now trying to make a name for himself in the Yankees’ organization as a lefty power hitter who plays above average defense behind the plate, signed a minor league contract with the 27-time World Series champions in January 2024, as scouts from the club were watching his adept defensive abilities at catcher during the winter.
In 73 games with Double-A Somerset and 52 with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2024, the lefty hitter fared well against rising MLB prospects and other players trying to keep their heads above water in affiliated baseball.
In 125 combined games between the two levels, Escarra slashed .261/.355/.434 with 12 home runs and 64 RBIs. Not All-Star level numbers, but they were enough to get a spot on the Yankees’ 40-man roster and an invite to 2025 Spring Training.
Another reason for Escarra’s invite to spring may be his performance at the plate this past winter in LIDOM. Playing with the Aguilas Cibaenas, Escarra captured the league’s batting title, finishing with a .363 average in 35 games.
In this year’s Spring Training, Escarra is battling for the Yankees’ backup catcher spot with Alex Jackson and Ben Rice. His chances to make the Opening Day roster improved after designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton revealed he had tendinitis in both elbows. Stanton, while not officially added to the injured list, is expected to start the season off the field.
Escarra’s time is now. Making his MLB debut is probably something he’s thought about for years, even while driving passengers to and from their destinations. Escarra wants to make Yankee Stadium his first stop on the way to a successful MLB career, and he’s paid his dues to get there.
Photo Credit: New York Yankees catcher J.C. Escarra watches batting practice during a baseball spring training workout Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
