As the Cuban Federation of Professional Baseball Players (FEPCUBE) ramps up their efforts to build a championship caliber team for the Intercontinental Series that commences January 25th of 2024 in Barranquilla, Colombia another player has said yes to this prestigious organization.
He is none other than Cuban-American catcher JC Escarra. The native of Miami revealed to the Cuban Baseball Digest and Pelota Cubana today that he was contacted by and has said yes to FEPCUBE for the upcoming inaugural version of tournament.
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.
https://twitter.com/CBaseballDigest/status/1737874875388248396?t=OnVTkKGA2_-8SIqszVEafg&s=19
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 the productive winter the native of Miami has had, once again being selected for the LBPRC All-Star Game Escarra 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 he is an asset to the FEPCUBE squad for the Intercontinental Series.