In baseball, dreams often begin with a glove, a backyard, and a hero on TV. But for JC Escarra, the dream was built on something more enduring: grit, sacrifice, and relentless self-belief. Years after being released from the minors and driving for Uber to support his family, Escarra stood behind home plate at Yankee Stadium—living the very dream that once felt miles out of reach.
A South Florida Dreamer
Juan Carlos “JC” Escarra was born on April 24, 1995, in Hialeah, Florida, into a proud Cuban-American family that lived and breathed baseball. His earliest memories are filled with Little League tournaments, sandlot games with friends, and Yankees highlights watched side by side with his father. The Bronx Bombers weren’t just his favorite team—they were his north star.
As he grew older, Escarra’s commitment to the game deepened. At Florida International University (FIU), he emerged as a reliable catcher with a steady bat and high baseball IQ. Scouts took notice, and in 2017, the Baltimore Orioles selected him in the 15th round of the MLB Draft.
A Dream Deferred
For five years, Escarra grinded it out across over 350 minor league games. But baseball can be ruthless. In 2022, without fanfare or warning, he was released. Just like that, the dream slipped from his fingers.
What followed was a test of resilience. With no contract, Escarra picked up work wherever he could—delivering food, driving for Uber, and even stepping in as a substitute teacher to keep his family afloat. While others may have seen a closed door, Escarra viewed it as a detour.
“I never let go of the dream,” he told Newsday in an April 2024 interview. “Even when I wasn’t on a roster, I acted like I was.”
Every day, after clocking out from a job, he would head to the gym or batting cage, preparing for a call that might never come.
A Call from the Bronx
That call finally came in January 2024. Yankees scout Raul Gonzalez, impressed by Escarra’s persistence and readiness, offered him a minor league deal. Escarra didn’t waste a second. He hit .302 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs earning a place on the Yankees’ 40-man roster that fall.
Then, on March 29, 2025, JC Escarra made his Major League debut at Yankee Stadium. No longer an Uber driver, no longer overlooked—he was a Major League catcher.
A Conversation with JC Escarra
At a recent meet-and-greet event hosted by Sports Minded Unlimited in Warren, New Jersey, on May 4th, I had the chance to sit down with Escarra for a conversation about his journey. He was candid, warm, and eager to share what his story means not only to him but to anyone chasing a dream that seems out of reach.
Julia Wyman : What message do you want to give to players still grinding in the minors or working side jobs while chasing their dream?
J.C Escarra : “It’s no secret—keeping hope alive is hard. But we all want to get here. If I did it, they can too. Don’t give up. Just keep working. Even when no one’s watching, you’ve gotta believe you belong.”
Julia Wyman: When did you know baseball was your path?
J.C Escarra: “I started playing baseball when I was 4 years old but honeslty Middle school. That’s when I really started dreaming about playing in the majors. I grew up watching guys like Carlos González and Tino Martinez—he was a Yankee legend. That’s when the fire really started burning.”
Julia Wyman: Now that you’re in the Bronx, what’s surprised you most about life in the majors?
J.C Escarra: “The fans are amazing, no doubt. But honestly? Being teammates with Aaron Judge. Watching what he does, how he carries himself, how he leads—that’s special. That’s once-in-a-lifetime stuff, and I get to be part of it.”
Full Circle
JC Escarra’s journey is not just a feel-good baseball story—it’s a lesson in perseverance. It’s about trusting your process when no one else sees your vision. It’s about the late nights, early mornings, and quiet moments when it’s just you and your goal.
He now wears the pinstripes with pride, but he carries something even greater: the legacy of every player who’s ever been told, “You’re not good enough.” For every kid swinging a bat in their backyard, for every minor leaguer working side jobs between practices—JC Escarra is living proof that the dream is still alive, and still worth chasing.
References
Baseball Reference. (2024). JC Escarra Minor League Stats. Retrieved from https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=escar001jua
Hoch, B. (2024, November 14). Yankees add JC Escarra to 40-man roster after standout season. MLB.com. https://www.mlb.com
Kuty, B. (2024, March 30). JC Escarra lives out Yankees dream after grinding through minors and odd jobs. NJ.com. https://www.nj.com/yankees
Newsday. (2024, April 1). Yankees’ JC Escarra once worked Uber shifts to support his family. Now he’s in the Bronx. drove Uber to support his family. https://www.newsday.com
Bronx Bomber Babe 
Leave a comment