Latest news with #Jocelyn
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Ex-FIU standout J.C. Escarra getting set for August 1-3 homecoming against Marlins
Baby, what a time to be alive. Juan Carlos Escarra III was born a couple of weeks ago in the middle of the greatest year of his father's life. That baby's father – known as J.C. Escarra – played at Mater Academy and then FIU before wandering around baseball's minor leagues for eight years. After getting released by the Baltimore Orioles in April of 2022, Escarra played for the Gastonia Honey Hunters in independent baseball, the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League and Ponce in Puerto Rican winter ball, among others. Finally, this year, on March 29, Escarra made his major-league debut as a pinch-hitter and a backup catcher for perhaps the most famous team in all of American sports, the New York Yankees. 'I can talk a lot more about what the major leagues are,' Escarra, 30, told The Herald during this week's All-Star break. 'It's steak and shrimp. It's five-star hotels. It's 40,000 fans every night. It is, bro. I'm living the dream.' Indeed, the video of Escarra sitting in the Yankees clubhouse this past March and calling to tell his Cuban-born mother, Marinelys, that he had made the Yankees out of spring training is a tear-jerker. Said Escarra: 'Acabo de hablar con (Yankees manager) Boone,' (I just talked to Boone.) His mom, sensing some important news: 'No, dime!' (No, tell me!) Escarra: 'Vamos para Nueva York!' (We're going to New York!) At that point, Escarra's mom starts screaming. Escarra is smiling … and then seconds later wiping away tears. 'I saw the video again just yesterday,' Escarra said on Wednesday. 'It never gets old. It still makes me cry.' On Tuesday, Escarra flew home to Hialeah, where he and his wife, Jocelyn, own an apartment they share with their newborn son. Jocelyn and the baby will join J.C. in New York as soon as the little guy is able to travel. Years from now, Juan Carlos Escarra III will be able to read a book about his father, watch a movie about his dad and also a documentary because all of that is in the works. TIGHT FAMILY The story starts in Cuba where J.C. Escarra's parents, Marinelys and Juan Carlos, were born. They met and settled in Hialeah with their two sons, J.C. and Michael Derek Escarra, whose middle name – ironically – was given in honor of former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. J.C. said his father worked three jobs while Marinelys went to nursing school. Money was tight, but Escarra said he never lacked for anything. 'Growing up, my pops put me in baseball,' Escarra said. 'There was never a tournament that my mom and dad didn't take me to. They didn't make a lot of money, but they always got me private coaching, and they didn't mind.' Escarra met Jocelyn in ninth-grade biology class at Mater Academy, and they started dating a couple years later. 'I didn't like him at first,' Jocelyn said with a laugh. 'No, I did, but he was after me a little more. 'It's his personality (that won me over). He's always happy, he's always smiling, and he's always positive.' While that relationship was starting to blossom, Escarra was making his mark as a Mater Academy baseball player. Eddie Gorriz, the coach at Mater at the time, said Escarra had 'really good hands and a cannon for an arm.' Escarra was a corner infielder, and Kevin Abraham, who later played for Florida Atlantic University, was Mater's catcher. 'Since J.C. is a lefty hitter who throws righty,' Gorriz said, 'the scouts would be all over me to put him behind the dish.' Escarra said Mets scout Mike Silvestri was the first person to suggest he should play catcher. But Escarra had no experience at the position, and Gorriz was trying to win games not please scouts. Translation: The only catching experience Escarra got in high school was in intra-squad games. Even so, the Mets drafted Escarra – as a catcher – in the 32nd round in 2013. Getting drafted so low, it was fairly easy for Escarra to turn down the Mets, opting to play at FIU. But as an FIU freshman in 2014, Escarra sat behind catcher Aramis Garcia, who went on to get drafted by the Giants in the second round that year. For the next three years at FIU, Escarra played catcher only sporadically and was instead used mostly at DH and first base. Escarra also missed his junior season due to shoulder surgery. On the positive side, he earned his Bachelor's degree from FIU in 2017, majoring in Recreation and Sports Management. Also that year, J.C. and Jocelyn got engaged. It happened after an FIU baseball game. Unbeknownst to Jocelyn, Escarra had all his family and friends remain in the stands. Ever the romantic, Escarra had arranged for giant letters to stretch from first to third base, and they read: WILL YOU MARRY ME? There were also rose petals, fireworks, a violinist and a 'yes' from Jocelyn. Capping off 2017, the Orioles drafted Escarra in the 15th round. Kelvin Colon, who was the Orioles area scout at the time, shared with The Herald the scouting report he wrote on Escarra eight years ago. 'Knows his role,' Colon wrote. 'Good leader. Winning-type player. Would consider drafting him in the ninth or 10th round.' The Orioles heeded that advice, taking Escarra a few rounds later. 'It was the (character) that drew me,' Colon said. 'Being a late-round draftee, you have to be passionate about the game. 'He comes from a blue-collar Cuban-American family. That's his foundation, and I knew he would do whatever it took to make it to the majors.' ADVERSITY HITS Escarra reached Triple-A in 2021, posting a .673 OPS in 58 games. But when the Orioles released him the following year, Escarra was devastated. The date of the release was April 6, 2022 – just six months before Escarra and Jocelyn were to be married. Escarra had a notion to quit baseball at that time, but his family wouldn't let him. To make ends meet, Escarra worked as an Uber driver, and there was also Jocelyn's salary as a teacher. In the meantime, Escarra – who had been used mostly as a first baseman in the Orioles organization – instructed his agent to find him a team that would allow him to play catcher. That led to seven different teams over the next two years before the Yankees signed him in January of 2024, sending Escarra to Double-A Somerset. At Somerset, Escarra played catcher behind Ben Rice, who is now the Yankees DH, and Agustin Ramirez, who this year has become a Marlins rookie sensation. In November of 2024, the Yankees put Escarra on their 40-man roster so that they would not lose him to minor-league free agency. Mervyl Melendez, who coached Escarra in his final season at FIU, completely gets why the Yankees would make that move. 'J.C.'s character is unbelievable,' Melendez said. 'In the year he played for me, J.C. got off to a slow start. I benched him for a few games to give him a mental break, and he came back and hit 15 homers the rest of the season. 'He never let his ego get in the way. As a pro, he went down to play independent ball – just a humble and persistent guy and one of the best human beings I've ever been around.' HARD AT WORK Escarra is one of only two former FIU players currently in the majors – the other is Cleveland pitcher Logan Allen. Beyond that, Escarra is also one of the hardest-working players in the majors. For a 7 p.m. home game, Escarra arrives at the stadium at about 12:30 or 12:45. A lot of that time prior to first pitch is spent in meetings as Escarra and starting catcher Austin Wells go over the scouting report on every opposing hitter. Escarra also has to know every opposing pitcher. Then there's on-field work – batting practice and fielding practice. 'A lot of meetings,' Escarra said. 'But it's our livelihood, and I wouldn't change it.' During games, even if Escarra is not playing, he is sitting next to Wells and Yankees catching coach Tanner Swanson. 'I'm locked in,' Escarra said. 'Let's say (Wells) stubs his toe, I'm expected to go in and hold it down.' As a catcher, Escarra said, he is constantly thinking 'three steps ahead,' reading swings and pondering who is on deck, for example. The Escarra family is also thinking ahead … to August 1-3 when the Yankees will visit the Marlins for three games. You can bet his family members will all be there, including Escarra's mother, who is still a nurse at Jackson Hospital; his brother, who is also a nurse at Jackson; and his father, who recently retired from Comcast at age 65. Another part of Escarra's core group of family members is his maternal grandmother, Maria Sosa. As stated, this is a blue-collar, tight-knit family. His parents went to Hialeah High, and they still live in the house where Escarra grew up. And Escarra, Jocelyn and the baby live just five minutes away. 'Whatever I've gone through in my career, my family has gone through it, too,' Escarra said. 'That's why it was so emotional when I finally made the majors.' A lot has changed for Escarra this year as he is now making a handsome salary – the major-league minimum is $760,000 per season. Escarra is also enjoying the big-city life that is part of the fabric of New York. 'There's a coffee shop on every corner,' he said. Escarra added that he's been recognized on the streets of New York a few times. 'Especially in the first couple of weeks after I made the team,' he said. 'That's when I was on The Today Show, and my story was really out there. 'it's incredible. Just last year I was a nobody, driving an Uber and just trying to get by, and now this. It's mind-blowing.'
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Snowflex Hill brings winter activities into summer at Sleepy Hollow
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Sleepy Hollow Snowflex Hill brings winter fun into the summer, and people are already racing for the slopes. The project was started in 2022 and is part of Polk County Conservation's efforts to bring year-round activities to the park. The hill has many perks, including the ability to entertain large parties, a moving walkway, and it isn't cold. 'One of the things that we really wanted was we wanted to be able to do the wintertime things in the summer, you know, make everything as accessible as we possibly can with this surface,' said Samual Lorton, Sleepy Hollow Operations Team Lead. 'This is called snow flex. It's an irrigated system. So they can come out and they can go tubing in the middle of summertime, just like it's winter.' The Snowflex Hill at Sleepy Hollow is the world's largest at over 600 feet long. Tubing is the main activity, but visitors are still able to enjoy snowboarding and skiing on certain nights of the week. VR Headset offers new way for Des Moines lifeguards to train Snowflex has been open for a few weeks and has been a hit. 'I came out here because it was my birthday and it just seemed super fun to go sledding in summer,' said Jocelyn, whose favorite part was 'Going down and like spinning around and going like three rounds because when you go down, like at the end, it sometimes takes you up on the green for airtime.' Sleepy Hollow says the hill is fully accessible, so anyone can enjoy it. 'We'll see kids, you know, kids four or five years old coming out here and enjoying it all the way up to. We have a lot of grandmas and grandpas that bring out their grandkids, and grandma and grandpa can go tubing,' said Lorton. 'We always like to say the joke that as long as gravity works, you're fine.' The park is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., with extended hours till 10 p.m. on Saturday. Specialty hours for snowboarders and skiers are Wednesday from 8 to 10 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Illegal immigrant suspect in Jocelyn Nungaray's murder now accused of prior sexual assault in Costa Rica
One of two suspects charged in Jocelyn Nungaray's murder is now accused of raping an American woman in Costa Rica, according to former Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. Two Venezuelan illegal immigrants who may have ties to the Tren de Aragua gang — Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, and Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21 — are charged in the 12-year-old's June 2024 murder. They allegedly sexually assaulted and strangled the pre-teen to death, leaving her body tied up in a bayou in Houston. Ogg told FOX 26 Houston last week that she learned over the course of her investigation as DA, before her successor Sean Teare took office last year, that Pena Ramos had been involved in a prior sexual assault in Costa Rica involving an American woman who was apparently on vacation at the time. "It happened in Costa Rica. It happened to an American citizen who came forward with that information after their pictures were shown on national television," Ogg told the outlet. "When she reported it to the authorities in Costa Rica, they did nothing. Imagine the frustration of that individual. I don't want that to be swept under the carpet." Mom Of Girl Allegedly Killed By Illegals Says Wildlife Refuge Renaming 'Means The World' To Family The victim is not from Texas but felt compelled to come forward when Nungaray's murder made national headlines and she saw the suspects' photos on the news. Read On The Fox News App "The courage of any crime victim to come forward like that is remarkable to me and that played a major role in determining whether the death penalty is appropriate," Ogg told FOX 26. Texas Wildlife Refuge Renamed For Murdered 12-Year-old, Jocelyn Nungaray, Unveils Signage: 'Her Life Mattered' Ogg, who was seeking the death penalty for both suspects while in office, added that "authorities had no idea of their past behavior," such as charges in other countries, which "makes it hard to determine if someone is going to be a future danger." The former district attorney said she came forward with the information to FOX 26 now because she is "very concerned about the decisions" that Teare "has been making," referencing multiple cases that have been dismissed recently. "I think it's important for the public to get the final say," Ogg added. "Do they deserve death for the rape and murder of Jocelyn? Or should they spend their life in the penitentiary? What I don't want is some backdoor deal done in the quiet of the night and a long time after people have forgotten the horror of this case. I just want people to remember Jocelyn, and I want them to hear and make a decision about the evidence." Illegal Immigrant Admitted To Killing Woman On Her 21St Birthday Alexis Nungaray, Jocelyn's mother, has since become an advocate for victims of crimes allegedly committed by illegal immigrants. In a May interview, Alexis Nungaray described the 12-year-old as "a very creative, talented, free-spirited 12-year-old girl." Nungaray said Jocelyn "was very quirky" and "an old soul." She liked dressing in 1990s-style cargo jeans and Converse and loved listening to music from as far back as the 1940s and 1950s. Texas Da Seeking Death Penalty In Jocelyn Nungaray Case Warns Migrant Criminals: 'You Cannot Run And Hide' "She was very different and unique. She was an amazing friend," Nungaray said. Nungaray also said she is grateful to President Donald Trump for both his support and for "keeping his promises" regarding immigration enforcement. Da To Seek Death Penalty Against Illegal Immigrants Accused In Nungaray Murder Case "I support immigration, but I say there's just a right way and a wrong way to do it," she explained. "He's protecting the people, and he's taking consideration to the people, us the citizens and making sure we're safe and our kids are safe, women are safe, that we're all safe in our communities." "We've still got a long way to go," she went on. "But I will always advocate for her and be her voice and stand up for better border control and immigration laws. Because I know 1 million percent, Jocelyn's death should have been preventable." WATCH: JOCELYN NUNGARAY'S MOTHER TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS Pena Ramos illegally crossed into El Paso, Texas, in May 2024, sources with the Department of Homeland Security previously confirmed to Fox News. He was caught by Border Patrol agents and was released into the U.S. with a Notice to Appear in court. Rangel Martinez also crossed illegally into El Paso in March and was caught by Border Patrol. He was released into the U.S. on an unknown basis. Jocelyn had been at a convenience store and was talking to her 13-year-old boyfriend on the phone after sneaking out of her family's apartment. The boyfriend told investigators that he could hear Nungaray talking with two people. Fox News' Peter Pinedo contributed to this article source: Illegal immigrant suspect in Jocelyn Nungaray's murder now accused of prior sexual assault in Costa Rica
New York Post
03-06-2025
- New York Post
Ex-Houston DA reveals sick twist in Jocelyn Nungaray murder case as concerns about successor's soft-on-crime agenda grow
One of the illegal migrants accused of raping and killing little Jocelyn Nungaray and dumping her body in a Houston bayou allegedly raped another victim before the youngster's vicious slaying, the former district attorney revealed — as she expressed concerns with her successor's lax prosecution style. During Democrat Kim Ogg's investigation into the 12-year-old's barbaric murder a year ago, a woman came forward claiming that Franklin Jose Pena Ramos sexually assaulted her while she was vacationing in Costa Rica, the former DA told Fox 26 Houston Thursday. 3 Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Pena, 26, were both charged with capital murder. Houston Police Department Ogg has known about the rape allegation since late last year as she began pursuing the death penalty against the alleged killers before she left her post. She said she felt compelled to come forward now because she's 'very concerned about the decisions' the new Democratic DA, Sean Teare, has been making that include dismissing multiple cases. A spokesperson for Teare's office didn't immediately respond to The Post's request for comment. 3 Jocelyn Nungaray was killed on June 16, 2024. Gofundme 'I think it's important for the public to get the final say. Do they deserve death for the rape and murder of Jocelyn? Or should they spend their life in the penitentiary?' said Ogg. Ogg said she fears 'some backdoor deal' being 'done in the quiet of the night and a long time after people have forgotten the horror of this case. 'I just want people to remember Jocelyn, and I want them to hear and make a decision about the evidence,' she added. The unidentified victim came forward to Ogg's office after spotting pictures of Pena on television following the June 16, 2024, murder. The woman said Pena attacked her while she was on vacation in Costa Rica, but that authorities there 'did nothing' when she reported it to them. 3 Alexis Nungaray speaks about her daughter Jocelyn, who was allegedly murdered by two illegal migrants from Venezuela last June. AP Jocelyn's mother, Alexis Nungaray, wasn't surprised by the latest revelation in the case, saying she 'always felt … that this was never their first time, especially Pena.' 'To just know that this happened to another woman, it hurts my heart. A piece of me shatters a little bit,' she said. 'I pray that no other woman has had to look in his eyes while they have their vulnerability taken from them, but if there are any others, I pray that they have the courage and the strength to come forward and help shed light on an open case,' she said.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mom of girl allegedly killed by illegals says wildlife refuge renaming 'means the world' to family
EXCLUSIVE: Alexis Nungaray, the mother of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, whose murder authorities say was at the hands of two illegal immigrants suspected to be Tren de Aragua gang members, told Fox News Digital that renaming a local wildlife refuge in her daughter's honor would mean "the world" to her family. Jocelyn Nungaray was sexually assaulted and strangled to death, allegedly by two Venezuelan illegals, Franklin Jose Pena Ramos and Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, who were let through the southern border during the Biden administration. Her body was found tied up in a bayou in Houston. Since her daughter's murder, Alexis Nungaray has become a vocal advocate for increased border security and a supporter of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Nungaray said the tragic manner of Jocelyn's death "takes away [from] who she was as a person." However, she said that the renaming of a 39,000-acre wildlife refuge on the Texas Gulf Coast preserves Jocelyn's memory for what she loved in life. Trump Honors Lives Of Laken Riley, Jocelyn Nungaray While Celebrating Strides On Securing Border Trump issued an executive order on March 5 renaming the former Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Houston to the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge. Read On The Fox News App Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, have since introduced bills to enshrine Trump's executive order into law, making it more difficult for a future president to change the name of the refuge back. The Senate has already passed the bill, and Babin is working to pass it in the House. Babin told Fox News Digital that his bill to codify Trump's renaming of the refuge after Jocelyn is receiving bipartisan support and that he expects it will be passed by the House soon and be immediately signed by the president. "This is a beautiful place. And if we name it after her, I think we will preserve her legacy," he said. "The main thing we need to remember is that this can never be allowed to happen again," he added. "We get this thing in law, codified, no future president can ever undo this. And so, we will have a memory of what happens when you have bad policies that can create a system that will allow this to happen to innocent people like Jocelyn." Texas Lawmakers Seek To Get Federal Reimbursement For Biden-era Border Control Expenses Nungaray said the effort to rename the refuge "touches every part of my heart and my family's heart." "Everyone who knew Jocelyn knew she loved animals so much, knew she loved nature, wildlife," explained Nungaray. "She truly loved all animals and all creatures, and she wanted every animal to have a place to call home." "Knowing that this national wildlife refuge is a place for a bunch of wild animals that travel through the country, and it is somewhere that they can call home, and it is somewhere that they can find a place of safety for them. I just know it would absolutely mean the world to her to know she has something in honor of her in that nature." She said that seeing the signs going up around Houston bearing her daughter's name is "bittersweet." Texas Gang Members Sentenced For Human Smuggling After High-speed Border Chases "I went out there to just go see what it was about, what it was like, and the amount of peace I felt just being there, it was just so pure and so peaceful," said Nungaray. "Immediately I thought Jocelyn would love this. She would love to be out here." Click Here For More Immigration Coverage "She wasn't just a 12-year-old girl who was strangled and left in a bayou of water," Nungaray went on. "She was a very creative, talented, free-spirited 12-year-old girl." Smiling, Nungaray added that Jocelyn "was very quirky" and "an old soul." She liked dressing in 1990s-style cargo jeans and Converse and loved listening to music from as far back as the 1940s and 1950s. "She was very different and unique. She was an amazing friend," said Nungaray. Ted Cruz Mocks 'Crazy Town' Dems As Maryland Senator Gets Defensive About Advocacy For Alleged Ms-13 Member Nungaray said she is very grateful to Trump for both his support and for "keeping his promises" regarding immigration enforcement. "I support immigration, but I say there's just a right way and a wrong way to do it," she explained. "He's protecting the people, and he's taking consideration to the people, us the citizens and making sure we're safe and our kids are safe, women are safe, that we're all safe in our communities." "We've still got a long way to go," she went on. "But I will always advocate for her and be her voice and stand up for better border control and immigration laws. Because I know one-million percent Jocelyn's death should have been preventable."Original article source: Mom of girl allegedly killed by illegals says wildlife refuge renaming 'means the world' to family
