The catcher was an Uber driver and substitute teacher to help pay his bills while grinding through independent ball for two years.

Escarra was taken in the fifth round of the 2017 MLB draft by the Baltimore Orioles and spent the next several years bouncing around their farm system. He even made the move to first base along the way in hopes of eventually finding a sticking spot that would lead him to the majors.

NEW YORK (AP) — J.C. Escarra’s winding path through professional baseball included a detour to gig work as a ride-share driver. When it was time to head from his midtown Manhattan hotel to Yankee Stadium on Thursday for his possible major league debut, the 29-year-old catcher and infielder called for a car.