The New York Yankees dropped Saturday afternoon’s game in spectacular fashion, but they made sure in the wake of the loss to salvage the day with a heartwarming gesture.
Though their backup catcher race has been seemingly decided for weeks, the Yankees left no doubt about the result by propping cameras up throughout Aaron Boone’s office a few days before heading north.
In the latest twist on the ongoing trend of keeping players on edge while their managers deliver excellent news, Boone kept JC Escarra sitting and squirming for nearly a minute while telling him about how much depth the Yankees have at the position, and how difficult the decision was for him.
Of course, Boone eventually cracked; logic won out, and he alerted Escarra, owner of a .333 average, .936 OPS and three homers, that he’d made the Opening Day roster.
Yankees bring JC Escarra onto MLB roster, Brewers demote Caleb Durbin
Beyond deserved. Boone came off very well here, as he (and the rest of the Yankees Universe) now await Escarra taking the next steps in his big-league journey. Ben Rice, who will likely start the season in the starting DH role, will be the team’s third catcher behind Escarra, who went from Uber driver to pinstripes seamlessly.
The news was slightly less rosy, and somewhat unexpected, for a former Yankee at Brewers camp on Saturday.
Caleb Durbin, once thought to be in the mix for the Yankees’ Opening Day infield, was instead dealt to Milwaukee, along with Nestor Cortes Jr., in exchange for Devin Williams in December. Though he showed off his pop early in camp, he was unable to take the leap, even with a depleted infield/late Brice Turang injury.
Durbin, who ended up at .250 with a .726 OPS, will head to Triple-A Nashville, while another former Yankee, Jake Bauers, likely retains the backup roster spot that Durbin surrendered.
Eventually, the loss of Durbin could come back to haunt the Yankees. But it won’t be today.
No, today is all about good feelings (except for the final score). Escarra made one of the largest, most unexpected leaps in recent Yankees history, and made himself undeniable. Now, he’ll get a chance to establish his legacy further.
