Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Notches first big-league hit
Rotowire
Escarra went 1-for-4 with a double in Thursday's 9-7 victory over Arizona.
With Austin Wells getting a game off, Escarra made his first start of the campaign. The 29-year-old enjoyed a personal milestone in the seventh inning when he hit a double to right field for his first hit as a major-leaguer. Escarra is a feel-good story -- he made the Yankees' Opening Day roster this year after being out of affiliated ball in 2022 and 2023 -- but his fantasy viability is limited due to his role as a backup to Wells, though Escarra does have the ability to play at both corner-infield and corner-outfield spots if needed.
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Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Officially makes team
Rotowire
Escarra was informed Saturday that he will be on the Yankees' Opening Day roster.
Escarra has had an impressive spring, maintaining a .936 OPS with five extra-base hits across 48 at-bats. It was reported Tuesday that he was in line to make the team as the backup to Austin Wells, and that is now officially the case. In 2024, Escarra maintained a 119 wRC+ across 493 plate appearances combined between Double and Triple-A.
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Yankees' J.C. Escarra: In line to serve as backup catcher
Rotowire
Escarra has a "stranglehold" on the Yankees' backup catcher job behind starter Austin Wells, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.
Escarra has crushed the ball this spring, sporting a 1.032 OPS with three home runs in 14 Grapefruit League contests. The 29-year-old is on the 40-man roster but will be making his major-league debut when he gets into a game. Ben Rice will also be on the Opening Day roster and is capable of catching, but he's likely to focus mostly on designated hitter duties.
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Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Swinging hot stick in spring play
Rotowire
Escarra went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's Grapefruit League win against the Phillies.
Escarra went deep in the seventh inning, blasting a 386-foot homer to right field. The 30-year-old has stood out this spring, slashing .355/.394/.645 with three homers, seven RBI and only six strikeouts over 33 plate appearances. Escarra thrived with a .930 OPS over 201 plate appearances at Triple-A last season, and he's competing for an Opening Day roster spot as New York's backup catcher behind Austin Wells.
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Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Belts Grapefruit League long ball
Rotowire
Escarra went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and three total RBI in Thursday's Grapefruit League loss to Minnesota.
Escarra drove in three of the Yankees' four runs in the contest, notching a two-run single in the seventh inning and a solo shot to right-center field in the ninth. The 29-year-old made noise at Triple-A last season with a .930 OPS, eight home runs and 34 RBI over 52 games, and he's competing in camp for the backup catcher job behind Austin Wells in the Bronx. Escarra has hit well this spring with a .294/.333/.471 slash line, four RBI and just three strikeouts over 18 plate appearances. His path to a roster spot could be helped by the fact that he is on the 40-man roster, unlike Alex Jackson, who is also in the running for New York's backup catcher role.
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Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Joins 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Yankees selected Escarra's contract from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday.
Escarra hit .261/.355/.434 with 12 homers between Double-A Somerset and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2024. The 29-year-old has yet to see any action at the major-league level but will enter the offseason as part of the Yankees' 40-man roster.
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