TAMPA — There will never be another year like 2025.
It was when J.C. Escarra became a father. It was when he entered a pinstriped fairy tale, finally making it to The Show after eight years in minor league ball — only two years removed from being an Uber driver and substitute teacher who believed baseball would soon be behind him.
It is forever embedded in him.
Near his left wrist is a tattoo of his son, J.C. III. This offseason, the catcher added an image above it, of Escarra crouching behind home plate at Yankee Stadium during his first major league start.