J.C. Escarra strengthening case for Yankees backup catching job after a lot of slammed doors
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Escarra is making an awfully strong bid for the Yankees’ backup catcher job. The 29-year-old entered camp with a leg up on veteran Alex Jackson because Escarra already cracked the 40-man roster, and probably with a leg up on Ben Rice, who does not have the reputation behind the plate that Escarra has.(Rice could also find his way onto the roster as a DH bat and backup first baseman.) Escarra has done nothing to lose the spot and plenty to win it during a camp in which he is 10-for-28 (.357) with two homers, a .971 OPS and encouraging reports from pitchers. If and when Escarra makes his major league debut, he will complete a journey that borders on cinematic.Five minor league seasons with the Orioles, who took a catcher and played him at first base before releasing him in 2022.
Out of affiliated ball, Escarra played with several teams in independent leagues as a catcher and became an Uber driver to make ends meet. The Yankees found him, signed him and now might carry him on the major league roster to be Austin Wells’ backup and perhaps a DH candidate. “There’s a lot to the grit that you develop through your journey.You got to survive a lot of slammed doors, and he has,” manager Aaron Boone said before an 8-6 win over the Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium.
“To have a 29-year-old catcher be put on the 40-man roster having not played in the big leagues I think says a lot about his perseverance and the quality of the player that he’s turned into.” Max Fried allowed one hit and one run in an efficient four innings in which he threw 57 pitches.He then jogged to the bullpen to throw a few more and get above 60. Fried was happy with his stuff and happy to work with Wells for the first time in a game. “Obviously extremely talented...