Former FIU player J.C. Escarra has made the New York Yankees' Opening Day roster, marking the culmination of his journey to the big leagues. The announcement, made on Saturday, was shared by the team on social media, as reported by WSVN.
Escarra worked hard to achieve his MLB dreams, even taking on jobs as an Uber driver and substitute teaching to support himself. Despite earning only $400 every two weeks while playing independent ball or traveling overseas for games, Escarra remained determined. His perseverance paid off with a strong spring training performance, batting .333 with three home runs and eight RBIs over 48 at-bats, which caught the attention of Yankees management.
During his senior year at FIU, Escarra posted a .305 batting average, 15 home runs, and 49 RBIs, earning a spot on the All-Conference USA Second Team. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 15th round in 2017. Last season, playing in the Yankees' feeder teams, he posted a .261/.355/.434 slash line.
A moment of raw emotion was captured when Escarra received the news of his big league promotion during a FaceTime call with his family. "It feels amazing. Lot of time coming. I was just grateful to be here at first and now my dreams come true. Now is the easy part. Now is just play baseball on the biggest stage, so I’m excited for what’s to come," Escarra told FOX News.
As the Yankees prepare for their game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Escarra's debut is eagerly awaited. He will back up primary catcher Austin Wells.
