J.C. Escarra still can’t believe his ‘surreal’ Yankees moment could soon be here

CLEARWATER, Fla. — J.C. Escarra can’t lie. 

As much as he is trying not to, he cannot help but think about what the next week might have in store for him, the news that should get delivered to him when camp breaks, the likely reward at the end of a long journey for the former Uber driver. 

With just days left in what has been a strong camp for the 29-year-old, Escarra has all but locked up the backup catcher job, even if that decision has not yet been made official. 

“I try to catch myself,” Escarra said Wednesday at BayCare Ballpark before the Yankees beat the Phillies 9-7. “Obviously it hasn’t happened yet, but it’s a surreal moment. I don’t know how it’s going to feel playing at Yankee Stadium in my first game or just being on the line singing the anthem on Opening Day. It’s stuff I dream about since I was a kid. I don’t know how it’s going to feel, but I don’t want it to be overwhelming and get the most of me. So I’m trying to just focus on day to day and keep doing what I’m doing right now.”