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29-year-old J.C. Escarra, who has been toiling for years in the minors and working as a Uber driver and substitute teacher to make ends meet, has officially made the Yankees’ Opening Day roster. It was quite the emotional scene, especially when Escarra called his mom to let her know that he finally made it to The Show.
Escarra, who turns 30 in April, was given the great news by New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone this past Saturday weekend. Not that Boone made it easy, leading the catcher to think he was about to be sent down to the minors, again, before telling him that he had made it.
From Uber driver to substitute teacher to the Yankees in 2025.
J.C. Escarra’s journey continues in the Bronx 💙 pic.twitter.com/9Nk7wbwqlW
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 22, 2025
“I was expecting some good news,” Escarra said about being called into Aaron Boone’s office. “My heart sank at first” because, NorthJersey.com reports he said, “if it was good news, I’m sure the other coaches would want to be there to congratulate me.”
Escarra, who put up a .333 batting average with a .936 OPS in 17 Spring Training games for the Yankees, was even more emotional when he broke the news to his mom.
“We’re going to New York,” he told his mom. “The dream came true.”
The moment @jcescarra told his mom that he made it to The Show 🥹 pic.twitter.com/Rc9X4sPOdf
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 22, 2025
“You could just see the emotions,” Escarra said after the call, according to NJ.com. “Me crying? I don’t really even cry that much. I knew she was gonna get like that. It’s just a special moment, special moment of what I’ve been through because she went through it with me as well. So it’s a whole family dream come true.”
It wasn’t easy for J.C. Escarra. Playing in the independent leagues, driving an Uber and substitute-teaching for years in an effort to make to the big leagues, was rough and at times felt futile.
“When I was making $400 every two weeks in indy ball, playing overseas, playing winter ball, having all those odd jobs just to provide for my family, there was a time I was going to hang it all up,” he said. “But I’m glad I didn’t.”