J.C. Escarra’s hard work and perseverance brought him the ultimate grand slam.
After the former Florida International University player spent years working part time as a substitute teacher and an Uber driver to support himself and his wife Jocelyn Escarra during his time in the New York Yankees’ minor league organization, he received the news March 23 that he officially made the Yankees roster.
“From Uber driver to substitute teacher,” the Yankees Instagram account captioned the announcement, “to the Yankees in 2025.”
As for how Yankees manager Aaron Boone delivered the big news? Well, he simply couldn’t do it without having a little fun.
“This is difficult to have to do because I know you’ve put yourself in a really good position,” Boone began in the video, having a one-on-one meeting with J.C., “and you’ve done everything we could’ve expected. I mean, you’ve gotten better as a catcher, and you came in here and showed it.”
But when J.C. was getting visibly nervous, Boone gave up the act and quipped, “Nah, you’re going to the big leagues.”
To make the momentous occasion even more emotional, the team shared another video of the catcher delivering the news to his mom during the most heartwarming phone call.
“Hi mom,” J.C. said in the March 23 Instagram video. “I just finished talking with Boone. We’re going to New York. The dream came true.”
With tears forming in his eyes and his mom audibly sobbing, she responded, “I can’t believe it my love.”
After all, the 29-year-old admitted that his journey to the MLB hasn’t been the easiest.
“I had just gotten married and bought an apartment with my wife,” J.C. told MLB.com last month of his days as an Uber driver. “So now I’ve got a mortgage to pay and a wife to provide for. I had to make money somehow, and no one was going to take away my home from me. I knew I had to make those payments, so I was doing anything it took.”
And though the Hialeah, Florida, native’s talents earned him the nickname “Hialeah Cannon,” there were moments when he considered giving up the sport altogether.
“I was about to hang it up,” he recalled. “It wasn’t working out for me, but I still knew in my heart I should give it a try.”
Thankfully, his love for the sport outweighed the emotional and financial strain his big dreams were taking at the time.
“We were living paycheck to paycheck, but we were making it happen,” he said. “I didn’t drive at night or on the weekends; maybe that’s where the money is.”
And before he knew it, he would be heading to The Bronx to start a new chapter with the New York Yankees. After all, his confidence in himself and his abilities never wavered.
“I think I’m the man for the job, to be honest,” J.C. said one month before getting the big news. “I believe I can do it. Talent-wise, I think I have what it takes. It’s just getting to know the pitchers and building that trust with them. If they feel good on the mound with me back there, the sky is the limit.”
