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.

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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.