After 1,155 games, Pirates’ Maggi gets call to the majors

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Drew Maggi sat at a lodge throughout the Allegheny River from PNC Park on Saturday evening.

The 33-year-old infielder arrived in Pittsburgh round 7 p.m., having simply been known as as much as the Pittsburgh Pirates from Double-A Altoona. Maggi, seeking to probably make his main league debut, reminisced as he began out on the ballpark.

“A lot of staring at the roof,” Maggi mentioned on Sunday morning. “Just kind of a lot of thought, a lot of thinking about different moments, how crazy it is. From my hotel room, I can see the stadium. A lot of just sitting in the chair, looking out, just being like, ‘Wow, I’m here.’”

Maggi was chosen with outfielder Bryan Reynolds happening the Bereavement List. First baseman Ji-Man Choi was transferred to the 60-day injured checklist with a left Achilles pressure to make room on the 40-man roster.

The Pirates wish to cap a four-game sequence sweep of the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, as Maggi hopes to play an element. He is not going to be a part of the beginning lineup.

It’s been an extended highway for Maggi, who has performed 1,155 video games throughout 13 minor-league seasons. He was chosen by the Minnesota Twins on Sept. 18, 2021, however didn’t seem in a recreation.

“I always believed this moment would come,” Maggi mentioned. “There was a little bit of me that was like, ‘You know what? You love playing baseball. Keep going no matter what.’ Crazy things happen in this game. So I’m very thankful that I’m here and that I get to enjoy this. I’m excited for the day.”

Maggi has six hits in 31 at-bats (.194) and three RBIs with Altoona this season. He has a profession .254 common with 978 hits, 45 residence runs, 354 RBIs and 222 stolen bases within the minors since being drafted out of Arizona State by the Pirates within the fifteenth spherical (No. 447 total) in 2010.

Altoona supervisor Callix Crabbe introduced Maggi’s recall in a video the Pirates shared on Twitter.

“It with great pleasure that I get to promote my first person to the major leagues, someone that is tremendously important to this group and someone that exemplifies grit,” Crabbe mentioned within the video.

Maggi, in tears at his locker stall, obtained a spherical of applause and a number of other hugs from teammates.

“Definitely a lot of thinking back. Was getting a lot of texts, calling my family,” Maggi mentioned. “It’s two hours on the drive. Had loads of time. Was going by way of previous pictures, previous recollections and moments, simply all through my profession. Pictures of my household in several cities.

“It’s been a special 24 hours. It’s been crazy. I can’t explain it. I’m very thankful for the Pirates doing this for me. It’s crazy, man. Just being here and walking through the clubhouse. It’s been a dream come true.”