Pirates name up 33-year-old infielder after greater than decade within the minors: ‘It’s been a dream come true’

Drew Maggi’s dream has lastly come true.

After 13 years as an infielder within the minor league system, the Pittsburgh Pirates known as Maggi as much as the majors after he had performed eight video games in Double-A Altoona to start out the 2023 season. He was on the bench because the crew defeated the Cincinnati Reds 2-0 on Sunday afternoon.

Maggi, 33, was known as up as Bryan Reynolds was placed on the Bereavement Listing and the crew transferred first baseman Ji-Man Choi to the 50-day injured checklist with a left Achilles pressure to make room on the 40-man roster.

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Drew Maggi of the Pittsburgh Pirates runs out a single throughout a spring coaching recreation towards the Philadelphia Phillies at Lecom Park on March 21, 2023, in Bradenton, Florida. (George Kubas/Diamond Pictures by way of Getty Pictures)

“I all the time believed this second would come,” he stated Sunday. “There was just a little little bit of me that was like, ‘You realize what? You’re keen on taking part in baseball. Preserve going it doesn’t matter what.’ Loopy issues occur on this recreation. So I’m very grateful that I’m right here and that I get to take pleasure in this. I’m excited for the day.”

Maggi was chosen by the Pirates within the fifteenth spherical of the 2010 draft. He was within the Pirates’ farm system from 2010 to 2014. He would then be within the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies’ organizations earlier than coming again to the Pirates in 2022.

Callix Crabbe, the supervisor of the Altoona Curve, introduced Maggi’s call-up in a video posted to Twitter.

Drew Maggi poses throughout Pittsburgh’s picture day at Pirate Metropolis on Feb 22, 2023, in Bradenton, Florida. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Pictures)

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“It with nice pleasure that I get to advertise my first individual to the foremost leagues, somebody that’s tremendously essential to this group and somebody that exemplifies grit,” Crabbe stated within the clip.

Maggi was in tears.

“Positively numerous pondering again. Was getting numerous texts, calling my household,” he stated. “It’s two hours on the drive. Had numerous time. Was going by previous photographs, previous recollections and moments, simply all through my profession. Photos of my household in numerous cities.

“It’s been a particular 24 hours. It’s been loopy. I can’t clarify it. I’m very grateful for the Pirates doing this for me. It’s loopy, man. Simply being right here and strolling by the clubhouse. It’s been a dream come true.”

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Maggi performed greater than 1,000 video games within the minor leagues. He has a .254 profession batting common and 45 house runs.

Drew Maggi of the Cleveland Indians turns the double play over Justin Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers throughout a spring coaching recreation at Camelback Ranch on March 1, 2018, in Glendale, Arizona. (Jennifer Stewart/Getty Pictures)

It’s unclear whether or not Maggi will get to play in a recreation. Pittsburgh is off on Monday and keep house to host the Dodgers.