Just two years ago, JC Escarra was contemplating abandoning baseball. He was driving for Uber and working as a substitute teacher in Miami, while playing independent baseball in an attempt to keep his major league dreams alive.
In the space of two weeks, all that has changed.
Last Thursday, the 29-year-old lined up alongside Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. in pinstripes. After years of turmoil, Escarra was a New York Yankee on Opening Day.
‘It’s hard to put into words,’ Escarra told DailyMail.com. ‘I’m still on cloud nine. It’s been my dream since I was little, and now I’m living it out, especially with the New York Yankees. It didn’t come easy, so I’m enjoying it a little bit more.’
Escarra was a 15th-round pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2017 and spent nearly five years in the Orioles’ minor league system before he was released at the end of spring training in 2022.
But he didn’t give up. Escarra hustled. He played independent baseball in Mexico and Puerto Rico while working two jobs after getting married in 2022. His wife Jocelyn, who is expecting their first baby, also worked multiple jobs to make ends meet.
JC Escarra lived out his dream on MLB Opening Day as a New York Yankee
After three years of turmoil, the 29-year-old finally got his call up to the major league
After marrying his wife Jocelyn in 2022, he worked as an Uber driver and substitute teacher
Escarra eventually signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees in January 2024, and spent the season with the organization’s Double-A and Triple-A affiliates.
But two weeks ago, he finally got the call up. He was heading to the Bronx. ‘You’re going to the Big Leagues,’ manager Aaron Boone told the catcher following a strong Spring Training.
Many big names, including New York legends CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte, have reached out to congratulate the catcher on earning his stripes, but Escarra’s first port of call? His mom, Marinelys.
In a video that has since gone viral, Escarra was captured breaking the news to his mom, who let out a squeal of delight.
‘It was just a regular day,’ Marinelys, who joined her son at an appearance at Raising Cane’s flagship store in Times Square for an appearance for the chain, recalled.
‘I was doing my house work, and then when he called, I was talking to my mom. I answered it and it was normal, until he told me the news. Then I started screaming and crying at the same time,’ she added with a chuckle.
Any mother would be proud to see their son step up to the plate but after seeing her boy go from rock-bottom to the big leagues, Marinelys admitted that it meant a little more.
‘I was able to see him when he was down and when he was up, and his strength and perseverance to continue fighting. 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,’ she explained, emotion creeping into her voice as the tears threatened to make a return.
Escarra’s mom Marinelys (left) went viral for her reaction to her son securing his roster spot
‘I continued crying until I got to the stadium,’ she emotionally added.
Escarra’s own arrival at Yankee Stadium bore a lot of emotion. When it was time to make the journey from his Midtown hotel to 161st Street for opening day, Escarra called for a car – an Uber to be precise.
It was a full circle moment, he insisted. ‘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,’ he said.
Yet, even stood on the first base line singing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ as the reigning AL champions began their quest for World Series defense, it still didn’t feel real.
Escarra likened the ‘euphoric’ experience to starring in a movie. And his fairytale has all the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster – one he’s already picked out the lead role for.
‘Everyone loves a feel good story. So using my story to make into a movie to be inspirational to everyone out there would be amazing,’ he admitted.
‘Because it doesn’t really matter if it’s baseball or not, it’s more about inspiring people to keep chasing their dreams through hardships. So, I hope there is a movie in the near future.
‘From the top of my mind, Brad Pitt or Jake Gyllenhaal I love seeing, so if they get to play me one day, that’ll be pretty cool.’
The 29-year-old likened his experience to a feel good Hollywood blockbuster
Escarra enjoyed a full circle moment when he took an Uber ride to Yankee Stadium
And the Yankees’ start to the season also had the makings of a silver screen sellout. The Bronx Bombers swept the Milwaukee Brewers to open their 2025 campaign, including 20-9 and 12-3 wins.
The Yankees have since dropped two games to the Arizona Diamondbacks but Escarra insisted that they will be bringing a championship ring back to the Big Apple.
‘We’re just seeing what we’re capable of as a team and knowing we can have games like that,’ he said. ‘We know we have a great team. We’re the New York Yankees, we have pride in that.
‘I think it’s just good stepping stone into into the season that we’re going to have. Start off hot and get even hotter. We’re trying to bring that ring back to New York City, and that’s what we’re gonna do.’
While the Yankees’ bats have started off hot, they’ve also been controversial. Some of the Pinstripes, including Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe, has been using new bats designed by a former physics professor.
The torpedo bats, which feature wood around the label area of the bat as opposed to the barrel, have broken multiple records and with their success has come criticism.
Barstool Sports chief Dave Portnoy has led the backlash against the lumber following the Yankees’ opening series dominance but Escarra has now hit back.
‘We’ve been using them for a while. It’s nothing new,’ he insisted. ‘We’re not the only ones using them. There’s a bunch of other teams using them.
The Yankees’ new torpedo bats have drawn a lot of backlash. Pictured Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Escarra said the experience was made more special by the fact he and Jocelyn are expecting
‘At the end of the day, I don’t find a big difference. You’ve still got to swing the bat and hit the ball in the barrel. It’s just small things that guys try to get better, and that’s where the game’s going.
‘It doesn’t really matter, as long as MLB approves them which they have. They’re totally legal. Anyone could use them, so it’s fair game.
‘I could personally tell you that it’s not necessarily going to make you hit the ball further or harder, but maybe it’s mental.’
Escarra made his debut on March 29 for the second game of the season but hasn’t had too much opportunity to wield the torpedo bats himself. He’s only had two appearances at the plate, playing back up to Austin Wells amid the Yankees’ catcher depth.
Instead, he’s been adjusting to the Big Apple, soaking up the ‘crazy’ lifestyle with his parents, wife, Jocelyn, and their soon-to-be new addition to the family.
‘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.’
