Yankees' 29-year-old rookie JC Escarra collects his first MLB hit

NEW YORK – JC Escarra popped out of a slide and pumped his fist as the Yankees’ bench stood and cheered.

In the fourth at-bat of his first MLB start, the 29-year-old lefty-hitting catcher lashed his first big-league hit – a double to right at Yankee Stadium.

Naturally, the Yankees retrieved the souvenir baseball for Escarra, who toiled in independent leagues and even drove for Uber before winning a job out of spring training.

Escarra’s memorable first MLB hit came off Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Jalen Beeks in the seventh inning of a game the Yankees led 9-7.

Escarra's 1st big-league hit 👏

Congrats, @jcescarra! pic.twitter.com/9enTul7TE1

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 4, 2025

“He’s been through so much in his career, he strikes me as someone who loves playing this game. I think he’s going to play a big role for us,’’ said Yankees manager Aaron Boone before the game.

Boone is fond of the energy Escarra “brings to the room’’ daily, from the first day of camp to his sixth day in the majors.

“You can tell there’s a passion and love for the game,’’ said Boone. “He’s got some presence to him, some confidence in what he’s doing. And he can really swing the bat.’’

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees' JC Escarra notches first career MLB hit vs. Diamondbacks