SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE, PA — J.C. Escarra has had a long journey from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Kansas City, and North Carolina to the New York Yankees’ Farm System.
The Yankees signed the Cuban-American utility-man Escarra to a minor league deal with a non-roster invite to spring training on January 12.
Escarra spoke to Latino Sports before their game against the Toronto Blue Jays Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons on August 17 at PNC Field in Scranton, P.A. ‘
“Just wearing that name across my chest and representing the New York Yankees 27-time World Champions. I think there is nothing more in the game of baseball than to honor that,” Escarra told Latino Sports.
Interview Yankees Triple-A with J.C. Escarra pic.twitter.com/JkCUTgTa7q
— Latino Sports (@LatinoSports) August 23, 2024
Escarra played 13 games for the Algodoneros de Guasave in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico this past winter. Additionally, this winter, he had one home run and six RBI for Guasave and also played in Puerto Rico with Leones de Ponce in Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente. Escarra had one home run and 15 RBI in 38 games with Leones de Ponce.
He was named an All-Star in LBPRC on January 14. Escarra also represented Team Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series at loanDepot Park in Miami this past winter.
Escarra’s Timeline
The 28-year-old, was born in Hialeah, Fla., and was drafted by the New York Mets in the 32nd round out of Mater Academy Charter in the 2013 MLB Draft, but decided to go to school at Florida International University. In 2017, he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 15th round.
In 2018, Escarra started the season with the Orioles Low-A affiliate, the Aberdeen IronBirds, and hit six home runs with an OPS of .934 in 51 games.
Image Credit: MiLB
The next year, he played 127 games with the Orioles High-A affiliate, the Frederick Keys, and hit 13 home runs in 442 at-bats and had an OPS of .690 for the year.
In 2021, he started his season with the Orioles Double-A affiliate, the Bowie Baysox, where he played 58 games before getting called up to their Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides. He combined to hit eight home runs in 95 games in 2021 and was designated for assignment by the Orioles on March 19, 2022.
In 2022, Escarra played Independent baseball in the American Association League with the Kansas City Monarchs. He had 12 home runs, 35 RBI, a batting average of .291, and an OPS of .926 in 70 games with the Monarchs.
In 2023, Escarra played in the Atlantic League with the Gastonia Honey Hunters from April 28 to June 16, hitting 15 home runs, 41 RBI, and an OPS of 1.131. He won Player of the Month in May, hitting eight home runs and driving in 31 runs.
Escarra then went to the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol in the summer of 2023, playing 21 games each with the Toros de Tijuana and the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna. He led the Mexican League with seven home runs in the playoffs.
Image Credit: Liga Mexicana de Beisbol
Escarra talked about the differences between the Spanish leagues and MiLB
“It’s a give in take. I saw a lot of good pitching over there. There’s not as much talent as there is here, but I think every guy has his strengths and weaknesses,” Escarra said. “I am glad I could bring what I was taught and the success I had over there in those leagues to Triple-A.”
The left-handed hitting Escarra caught 16 of 17 games from July 27 to August 16. Escarra was pressed into this duty when Venezuelan catcher Carlos Narvaez got called up to MLB on July 13 and when the Yankees traded their top catching prospect Dominican Agustin Ramirez to the Miami Marlins for Jazz Chisholm Jr. on July 27.
“I think the work that I put in before this I think it got me ready to catch this amount of games. I’m happy that I was ready and that I got through it,” Escarra said.
Just JC doing JC things. 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/gwjO9ITnFY
— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) August 22, 2024
Escarra was also happy that the team won the majority of those 17 games he caught. The RailRiders are fighting the Washington Nationals Triple-A affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings for a playoff berth as second-half champions and are 2.5 games behind them as of August 22.
Escarra is a catcher first but has also played both corner infield and outfield spots this season. He has caught 43 games, played 23 at first base, 18 at third base, 10 as the designated hitter, and four in the outfield. In totality, he has a unique skill set for a catcher and could find himself in other positions again since Narvaez has returned to the RailRiders.
He broke camp with the Yankees Double-A affiliate, the Somerset Patriots. His numbers with the Patriots were four home runs, 30 RBI, and a slash line of .233/.322/.374 in 257 at-bats.
He got promoted to the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on July 19 and has been on fire with two home runs, 18 RBI, and an OPS of .955 in 89 at-bats.
Image Credit: MiLB
“I’m seeing it well now. It’s just an adjustment day to day that I’ve been making. I’ve been trusting the process and I’m not doing anything different than I was down in Double-A,” Escarra said. “It’s a long year, now is when it’s clicking for me, and that’s what I want to finish strong.”
Escarra has caught some of the Yankees’ top pitching prospects such as Will Warren, who is ranked 5th on the Yankees’ top 30 prospect list on MLB Pipeline. He also got to catch Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in a rehab assignment with the Somerset Patriots in June.
“We’ve had so many great pitchers. I can’t single out one guy as the best, but I’m so proud of our pitching staff.”
Escarra kept up his hot hitting last night against the Minnesota Twins Triple-A affiliate, the St. Paul Twins, going 2-for-5 with an RBI double.
JC Escarra extends the lead with a 386-foot double at 104.7 mph off the bat! 😤 pic.twitter.com/5jF1whxykh
— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) August 23, 2024
Escarra is still fighting to fulfill his dream of playing in MLB and will hope to force his way on the Yankees’ radar when the rosters expand in September.
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