JC Escarra has been blazing hot since being promoted to Scranton Wilkes-Barre, the Triple-A affiliate of the Yankees. In 38 games with the club he is slashing .303/.414/.516/.930 with five longballs and 25 runs batted in, including a homer in three consecutive trips to the plate. He has also played impeccable defense and flashed his cannon arm on plenty of occasions.
Last night the Cuban-American catcher swatted two homeruns and drove in three runs for the Railriders. During the early stages of the month of September Escarra has homered three times and is hitting a robust .417. This is the native of Hialeah, Florida’s second go-around with an MLB organization, Escarra played in Baltimore’s minor league system from 2017-2021, ultimately being released by the O’s. The backstop is looking to revindicate himself with the Bronx Bombers and finally grace the grand stage.
I asked Escarra how his promotion to the Railriders has motivated him to his recent performance and he had this to say,”It gives a little more motivation, I feel like it’s a door that has opened for me and that I have to be thankful for another opportunity. This is an opportunity that a lot of guys don’t get, so I am trying to make the most of it. I am one step from the big leagues, in fact I’m so close I can almost taste it and I feel like my last go around in the minors with Baltimore I wasn’t able to enjoy. I wasn’t able to do what I wanted to do, but now that I am back I am making the most of it. I am showing that I do belong and deserve to be called a big leaguer. “
The media’s eyes in Gotham have been square on the Miami catcher lately, especially since the recently injury to Austin Wells. Although all x-rays have been negative on the starting Yankees catcher may have to miss a few games, but if for some reason Wells suffers a setback it is good to know that there is an insurance policy in the form of Escarra at Triple-A. With the versatility that the slugger has displayed this year in minors by not only playing catcher, but also first base, third base and the outfield do not be surprised if you see the 29-year-old up in the big show before season’s end.