J.C. Escarra considered retirement just a couple years ago.
His baseball journey was dying, having been released out of the Orioles minor league system in 2022.
But in the span of just two-plus years, Escarra went from a foot out of the game to two feet in the major leagues with the New York Yankees.
And on April 3, he saw his name on the lineup card for his first regular season start in Major League Baseball.
Who is J.C. Escarra?
J.C. Escarra is a 29-year old catcher for the New York Yankees.
His journey to the Bronx was anything but straightforward.
After Escarra’s release from Baltimore, he began driving Ubers to make ends meet.
He also played independent baseball and joined teams in Puerto Rico and Mexico to stay in the game.
Escarra was out of affiliated baseball for the entire 2023 season.
In 2024, he latched on with the Yankees organization, where he played in both Double-A and Triple-A. Across those two levels, he batted .261 with 12 home runs, enough to stay in the game.
Escarra, who turns 30 on April 24, made the Yankees’ Opening Day roster. Two appearances off the bench were the beginnings of his big league career, neither resulting in a hit in an at bat apiece.
On Thursday, April 3, Escarra got his first start.
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J.C. Escarra’s full-circle Uber moment
On Opening Day, there was only one way for Escarra to get to Yankee Stadium: He called an Uber.
“From what I’ve been through and what I had to do to get to where I’m at today, having an Uber ride to the Stadium for my first major league game is truly special,” Escarra told reporters.
Escarra’s wife Jocelyn is expecting their first baby, so it’s been a whirlwind time in his life. He’s definitely not complaining.
“Having our first baby at the same time that I’m living my dream is very special to us,” Escarra said. “I’m happy that I’m not the only one that’s gonna experience it. I have my mom here and my dad here, my wife, our little baby boy, that’s that’s on this way. We’re all gonna enjoy it together.”
J.C. Escarra’s mother goes viral for reaction to MLB news
When Escarra learned he made the Yankees major league roster, he called his mom, Marinelys.
Her reaction was captured on a video that since went viral as she became overwhelmed with emotion.
“I was doing my house work, and then when he called, I was talking to my mom,” Marinelys told The Daily Mail. “I answered it and it was normal, until he told me the news. Then I started screaming and crying at the same time.”
Marinelys was there on J.C.’s entire journey.
“I was able to see him when he was down and when he was up, and his strength and perseverance to continue fighting,” she said. “When there’s a win, you always have to have work. So you have to have the battle to be able to see what is coming.”
J.C. Escarra minor league stats
J.C. Escarra played five seasons in the MLB-affiliated minor leagues before making the New York Yankees’ 2025 roster.
In those seasons, he was a career .249/.351/.396 hitter with 42 home runs in 468 games.
He’s got lots of patience at the plate, with 210 walks compared to 288 strikeouts, a great ratio in the modern game.
“He brings a confidence and an energy to the field with him every day,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before Escarra’s first big league start.
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