The tear-filled talk ex-Uber driver J.C. Escarra had with his mom after making Yankees roster
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees from spring training TAMPA — J.C.Escarra’s heart sank.When Aaron Boone called him into his office after Saturday’s game at Steinbrenner Field, Escarra was expecting some good news.
He had put together a strong camp on both sides of the ball to make his case for the backup catcher role, and all signs pointed to him making the team.But when Escarra, 29, walked into Boone’s office, there were no other coaches present.The former Uber driver and substitute teacher, to help pay his bills while he grinded through independent ball for two years, figured the room might be more crowded if there was something to celebrate.Boone started off by framing the conversation as a “difficult” one and talking about the catching depth in the organization, which put a pit in Escarra’s stomach.
He has been told no and rejected plenty of times along his long journey to this point.But after pausing for a few seconds, Boone broke the bit and told Escarra he was going to the big leagues.“It feels amazing,” Escarra said Sunday morning.“Lot of time coming.
I was just grateful to be here at first and now my dreams come true.Now is the easy part.
Now is just play baseball on the biggest stage, so I’m excited for what’s to come.”After he got the news, Escarra called his parents and had a tear-filled conversation with his mom, telling her he had made the team.“I don’t really even cry that much — I knew she was going to get like that,” Escarra said.“But 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.”Escarra, who is set to become a father in June, celebrated with his wife on Saturday night.
By Tuesday, he will see the rest of his family when the Yankees play the Marlins in Miami, near where Escarra grew up...