Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Slated for No. 2 catcher role
Rotowire
Escarra is expected to serve as New York's backup catcher behind Austin Wells this season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Escarra got his first taste of big-league action last season and posted a .202/.296/.33 slash line with two homers, 11 RBI, one stolen base and an 11:14 BB:K over 98 plate appearances. Both he and Wells bat left-handed, so Escarra's opportunities to play will likely come exclusively when Wells needs a rest day. Ben Rice, who's slated to be the team's primary first baseman, also has experience behind the plate and saw action at that position in 36 contests last year, though it's unclear how often (if at all) the Yankees will use him as a catcher this year.
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Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Optioned to minors
Rotowire
Escarra was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday.
Escarra has bounced between the majors and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre all season. He was most recently recalled Monday and did not log a plate appearance before being optioned.
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Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Back in majors
Rotowire
The Yankees recalled Escarra from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.
Escarra is back with the Yankees with the active roster expanding from 26 to 28 men. He's previously appeared in 40 games with the Yankees this season, slashing .202/.296/.333 with two home runs, one stolen base, 11 RBI and five runs across 98 plate appearances. Escarra will likely be in line for limited playing time at catcher while both Austin Wells and Ben Rice are available.
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Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Moves back to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Yankees optioned Escarra to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.
In a corresponding move, New York is expected to activate utility man Amed Rosario (collarbone) from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game at Tampa Bay. After being called up from Triple-A on Aug. 10, Escarra appeared in just one game during his week-long stint with the Yankees, going 0-for-1 with an RBI.
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Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Dispatched to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Yankees optioned Escarra to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.
The move will make room on the 26-man active roster for outfielder Austin Slater, whom the Yankees acquired from the White Sox. Escarra has appeared in 39 games for the Yankees this season and has slashed .205/.299/.337 with one steal, two home runs and 10 RBI across 97 plate appearances. With Escarra down in Triple-A, Ben Rice will serve as the top backup to No. 1 catcher Austin Wells.
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Yankees' J.C. Escarra: First career three-hit game
Rotowire
Escarra went 3-for-4 with an RBI double and an RBI single during Sunday's 5-4 win over the Rockies.
Escarra, a 30-year-old rookie, notched his first three-hit game in the big leagues and drove in a pair of runs during Sunday's win. He came into the contest with one hit in his last eight at-bats. On the year, Escarra is slashing .244/.352/.400 with one homer, four doubles and a 7:7 BB:K across 54 plate appearances.
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Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Belts first major-league homer
Rotowire
Escarra went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in the Yankees' 5-1 win over the Blue Jays in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader.
Escarra started in Sunday's nightcap after Austin Wells served behind home plate in Game 1. Escarra extended the Yankees' lead to three runs in the sixth inning on an RBI single to right field, and he followed that up with his first major-league home run in the eighth. Escarra has gone 5-for-25 with three walks, two runs scored, one home run and two RBI this season.
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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: 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: 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.
