This Major Leaguer has yet to play an MLB game
BRADENTON, Fla. — The story of Moonlight Graham, the outfielder who performed one inning of protection however by no means acquired an at-bat, owns a distinguished area in baseball tradition. Some would possibly think about Graham’s story a tragedy, whereas others would possibly discover the sweetness in it.
A century-and-change after Graham’s lone voyage on a giant league baseball subject, the story of Drew Maggi — a journeyman with no Major League recreation on his résumé — options equal elements magnificence and tragedy. It’s a narrative that the 33-year-old isn’t carried out writing.
Maggi is, by definition, a Major Leaguer. That reality isn’t obvious on his Baseball-Reference or FanGraphs pages, however for about 48 hours, Maggi, who homered to interrupt up the Yankees’ shutout bid within the ninth inning of the Pirates’ 9-1 split-squad loss on Thursday, loved life within the Majors. For the remainder of his life, Maggi shall be a giant leaguer; nobody can take that from him.
He simply hasn’t performed in a Major League recreation.
“It’s been a lot of years, a lot of different teammates, a lot of different organizations,” Maggi stated. “I think going through the process and being here now, I’ve learned a lot. It’s been a hell of a journey, man.”
Before Maggi — chosen by the Pirates within the fifteenth spherical of the 2010 MLB Draft — earned his first and solely huge league callup, he performed within the Minors for a decade with 5 organizations. From 2012-16, Maggi performed 444 video games on the Double-A degree. On numerous events, Maggi, whose profession appeared to stagnate, contemplated hanging up his spikes.
“You always believe that you can get another shot, but as you get older, you have that in your mind: ‘This could be it for me,’” Maggi stated.
Retirement crossed Maggi’s thoughts, however the help of household and mates stored Maggi on the sphere. After 10 years of professional ball, the Twins rewarded Maggi’s persistence.
Maggi wakened on Sept. 18, 2021, as a member of Minnesota’s taxi squad when utility participant Rob Refsnyder sustained an harm. The Twins wanted somebody to fill out the roster. That somebody could be Maggi. Following 1,042 video games within the Minors, following 4,075 plate appearances, following numerous hours of questioning whether or not he’d get his alternative, Maggi — who hit a career-high 16 dwelling runs in Triple-A — made it.
“Just hearing that you’re a big leaguer, it’s a different feeling,” Maggi stated. “I got to a certain point where it was like, ‘You know what, it doesn’t matter. I love playing baseball. As long as I have a jersey on and I’m having a good time, whatever.’ That little Major League barrier, I always knew I could do it. When it finally got said, I broke down.”
Maggi acquired numerous calls and texts when the news broke. He described having an “out-of-body” expertise when he stepped onto the sphere throughout warmups. During batting observe, Maggi remembers wanting round Rogers Centre and pondering, “[Man], this is it.” A 12 months and a half after that have, he struggled to place the sensation into phrases — the sensation of reaching a dream that, at instances, felt perpetually out of attain. All that was left was to play, to step onto the sphere, to dig into the batter’s field. He by no means acquired the prospect.
Maggi didn’t seem within the Twins’ 6-2 loss to the Blue Jays on Sept. 18, nor did he seem within the 5-3 loss on Sept. 19, both. On Sept. 20, the Twins optioned Maggi again to Triple-A St. Paul.
Maggi hasn’t returned to the Majors since.
“For me, at the end of the day, I’m a big leaguer,” Maggi stated. “I can at all times say that. I’m grateful for the Twins. They didn’t have to do this. I take a look at it as a optimistic; I at all times do.
“Now, it’s on to the next thing. Obviously, I would have loved to get in there and it didn’t happen, but everything happens for a reason. Now, I’m just a little more hungry.”
Maggi’s starvation to play that first recreation lands him again in Bradenton, again with the franchise that drafted him. All these years later, town nonetheless has “that Bradenton smell” to Maggi. Much has modified because the first time Maggi stepped foot on this metropolis, however the purpose stays the identical: Make it to the Majors, and this time, make his means right into a recreation. That street gained’t be simple, however Maggi didn’t come this far to solely come this far.
“I’ve tasted a little bit,” Maggi stated. “Now, I want it again.”
