JC Escarra will wear two different uniforms this winter. The Cuban -American will start the season with the Algodoneros de Guasave of the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico, but when the season starts in the Puerto Rican Winter League he will return with the Leones de Ponce. The ex-Oriole prospect had a strong winter in Puerto Rico with the Leones de Ponce last season hitting .277 with two longballs, 14 doubles and 25 runs batted in, in 47 games with ballclub. His efforts also earned him a berth in the league’s all-star game.
In 40 games this season with Gastonia of the Atlantic League he slashed .350/.427/.719/1.146 with 15 homeruns and 40 RBIs. Escarra was second in the league in homeruns and runs batted in, while he is third in batting average. Escarra was traded this offseason from the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association to Gastonia, the Honey Hunters were looking for another big bat to insert in their lineup and that is exactly what they received. During May Escarra hit a robust .364 with eight roundtrippers and 31 runs batted in earning player of the month honors.
This earned him a contract with the Tijuana Toros, who later surrendered his rights to the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna. In 42 games in México during the regular season Escarra hit .296 with seven homeruns and 24 runs batted in, while also slashing .383/.512/.895. In the playoffs the South Floridian has turned it up a notch batting .327 while also driving in 13 runs. The slugger has also slashed .444/.654/1.098 and leads Union Laguna with five homers.
With a productive winter the native of Miami could open the eyes of scouts in Asia to his immense talent and even find himself once again in México or at best return to a major league farm system.With his potent bat and timely hitting we will probably see him in the Serie del Caribe this February.
El cubanoamericano @jcescarra comenzará la temporada con @AlgodonerosGsv de la @Liga_Arco y cerrará el invierno con @LeonesLBPRC de la @LBPRC .#pelotacubana #LBPRC #LigaARCO pic.twitter.com/oHA8LPBrsS
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) August 31, 2023
Cuban signings in the Winter Leagues:
LIDOM:
Yunesky Maya RHP (Águilas)
Rangel Ravelo IF-OF (Águilas)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Águilas)
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Yasiel Puig OF (Estrellas)
Julio Robaina LHP (Estrellas)
Raúl Valdés LHP (Toros)
Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico:
Yuniesky Larduet OF (Los Mochis)
Yasmany Tomás 1B-DH (Los Mochis)
Pavel Hernández RHP (Navojoa)
Albert Lara IF-OF (Navojoa)
Carlos J. Viera RHP (Hermosillo)
Roel Santos OF (Hermosillo)
Dariel Álvarez OF (Culiacán)
Miguel Romero RHP (Culiacán)
Peter O’Brien OF-1B (Culiacán) *
Félix Pérez OF-1B (Jalisco)
Lázaro Blanco RHP (Mazatlán)
Yoelkis Guibert OF (Guasave)
Yadir Drake OF-1B (Guasave)
JC Escarra C,OF,1B (Guasave)* (**)
Yoanys Quiala RHP (Monterrey)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP ( Ciudad Obregón)
LBPRC:
Pedro Echemendia RHP (Ponce)
JC Escarra C,IF,OF (Ponce)*(**)
Lázaro Estrada RHP (Santurce)
LVBP:
Ronald Bolaños RHP (Caribes)
LBPN:
Lorenzo Quintana (Tigres de Chinandega)
*Cuban-American
** Will play with Guasave until November, after November will join Ponce.