PITTSBURGH — Drew Maggi sat at a lodge around the Allegheny River from PNC Ground 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, taking a look to in all probability assemble his primary league debut, reminisced as he began out on the ballpark.
“A lot of staring at the roof,” Maggi stated 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 used to be decided on with outfielder Bryan Reynolds going at the bereavement listing. First baseman Ji-Man Choi used to be transferred to the 60-day injured listing with a left Achilles pressure to assemble room at the 40-man roster.
The Pirates capped a four-game form sweep of the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday with a 2-0 victory, however Maggi didn’t get into the sport.
It’s been an extended highway for Maggi, who has performed 1,155 video games throughout 13 minor league seasons. He used to be decided on by means of the Minnesota Twins on Sept. 18, 2021, however didn’t seem in a competition.
“I always believed this moment would come,” Maggi stated. “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 3 RBIs with Altoona this season. He has a profession .254 moderate with 978 hits, 45 house runs, 354 RBIs and 222 stolen bases within the minors since being drafted out of Arizona Surrounding by means of the Pirates within the fifteenth spherical (Deny. 447 general) 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 stated within the video.
Maggi, in tears at his storage stall, won 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 stated. “It’s two hours on the drive. Had a lot of time. Was going through old photos, old memories and moments, just throughout my career. Pictures of my family in different cities.
“It’s been a distinct 24 hours. It’s been lunatic. I will be able to’t provide an explanation for it. I’m very grateful for the Pirates doing this for me. It’s lunatic, guy. Simply being right here and strolling in the course of the clubhouse. It’s been a dream come true.”
The Related Press contributed to this document.
