New York Yankees catcher J.C. Escarra had a standout performance in a 3-2 spring training victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. He went 3-for-4 with a home run and threw out a baserunner. Manager Aaron Boone praised Escarra's potential as a top catcher.
In Port Charlotte, Florida, on Tuesday, Yankees catcher J.C. Escarra delivered an impressive showing during the team's 3-2 Grapefruit League win against the Rays. Escarra started strong, launching a 94.3 mph fastball from Ryan Pepiot 438 feet over the right-field boardwalk on his first at-bat, with the ball exiting his bat at 108.4 mph. He added singles in his next two plate appearances and hit a 100.8 mph lineout to center in the sixth inning, finishing 3-for-4 overall. Escarra's defensive highlight came in the seventh when he threw out Rays baserunner Ben Williamson, a play he described as his favorite moment of the day, noting the team's focus on improving caught-stealing percentages last year. Entering Spring Training with opportunities due to Austin Wells' participation in the World Baseball Classic, Escarra is batting .276 with three home runs and five RBIs in 29 at-bats. He credits part of his success to a Torpedo bat modeled after Aaron Judge's, recommended by the Yankees' analytics team, which provides a larger barrel for better contact. Post-game, teammate Oswaldo Cabrera teased Escarra about his extensive cologne collection—over 100 bottles—which he rotates daily. Escarra had two bottles in his locker but considered sticking with them after his strong outing, invoking baseball superstitions. Yankees manager Aaron Boone commended him: “J.C. is a really good player... There’s no doubt in my mind he’s a top-half-of-the-league catcher.” Escarra expressed confidence at the plate: “Just getting a pitch I could handle and putting my best swing on it.”
