33-year-old Maggi might lastly make 1st look in The Present
April twenty third, 2023
PITTSBURGH — As he stood within the Pirates’ clubhouse on Sunday morning, Drew Maggi recalled the one different time in his life that he graced the sector at PNC Park.
It was 2010, and Maggi had simply signed with the Pirates. He was there together with his mom, Sarah. Drew remembered his mom asking if he preferred the sector.
“I mentioned, ‘Mother, that is lovely,’” Maggi mentioned. “I had a very good feeling inside. I even bear in mind telling her, ‘I can see myself taking part in right here in the future.’”
When Maggi spoke these phrases to his mom, he was a 21-year-old who had simply departed Arizona State College, set to play for the Brief-Season State School Spikes. Now 33 years younger with a lifetime of Minor League experience under his belt, Maggi can say that good feeling was justified.
Previous to Sunday’s sport towards the Reds, the Pirates chosen Maggi’s contract from Double-A Altoona and transferred Bryan Reynolds to the bereavement record. A decade and alter after being drafted by the Pirates, Maggi lastly has the chance to don the black and gold.
“That is the place it began for me,” Maggi mentioned. “This entire 12 months has been an enormous flashback of my youthful self. I’m actually pleased with the way it all turned out. I do know that 13 years is de facto onerous. There have been loads of ups and downs, loads of totally different folks, accidents, loads of stuff occurs. You by no means know when your days are numbered. So, being right here, it feels proper.”
To make room for Maggi on the 40-man roster, the Pirates transferred Ji Man Choi to the 60-day injured record.
Maggi, who has logged 4,494 profession Minor League plate appearances, has by no means performed in a Main League sport, however this isn’t Maggi’s first Main League callup.
On Sept. 18, 2021, the Twins promoted Maggi, a member of the crew’s taxi squad in Toronto, after Rob Refsnyder sustained an harm. Following 11 seasons within the Minors, Maggi was a Main Leaguer.
Maggi spent two days on Minnesota’s bench, and on Sept. 20, the Twins optioned Maggi to Triple-A. He turned the newest “phantom ballplayer,” somebody who has been on a Main League roster however has not performed. A 12 months and a half later, Maggi will, as soon as once more, have a chance to play in his first Main League sport.
Maggi was not within the beginning lineup towards the Reds and did not make an look off the bench because the Pirates picked up their seventh consecutive win with a 2-0 victory. When jokingly requested if he made any calls for to get into the lineup, Maggi mentioned he “in all probability ought to get it in writing.”
Maggi would like to swimsuit up for his first Main League sport for any crew, however doing so with the Pirates would have an additional layer of sentimentality.
In 2010, the Pirates chosen Maggi within the fifteenth spherical of the MLB Draft. He spent his first 5 seasons with the group, however after spending three years with Double-A Altoona, he departed from the group as a Minor League free agent.
Final season, after Maggi had frolicked with 5 different organizations, the Pirates re-acquired Maggi from the Phillies through commerce. Throughout Spring Coaching, Maggi made one compelling bid for the Opening Day roster, hitting .344/.417/.688 with three dwelling runs whereas taking part in three totally different positions.
The Pirates elected to assign Maggi again to Altoona, the crew he had performed with eight seasons prior. Maggi struggled to start the season with the Curve, however when a roster spot opened up with Reynolds heading to the bereavement record, the journeyman made the two-hour journey west from Altoona to Pittsburgh.
Maggi couldn’t sleep a lot final night time as he lay on his mattress on the Fairmont Lodge, positioned on the opposite aspect of the Allegheny River. He stored looking towards PNC Park, realizing that come Sunday, he’d have the chance to name that stadium his administrative center.
“A number of simply sitting within the chair, looking and being like, ‘Wow. I’m right here,’” Maggi mentioned.
“After I informed a pair guys yesterday, ‘Hey, that is what we will do,’ the smile on gamers faces is what says all of it,” mentioned supervisor Derek Shelton. “Having the ability to give him a hug this morning, it was like with the ability to do one thing with one in every of your youngsters.”
His mother, Sarah, his dad, Craig, and brother, Beau — “Stunning,” Maggi joked — can be in attendance, having made the journey from Arizona. Maggi held himself collectively pregame, however he acknowledged that the emotion may be uncontainable when he sees his dad and mom.
Maggi’s time with the Pirates could not find yourself lasting all that lengthy. Reynolds’ keep on the bereavement record requires a minimal keep of three video games and a most keep of seven video games, that means Reynolds might be again by the tip of the Pirates’ three-game set towards the Dodgers. No matter how lengthy he is in Pittsburgh, Maggi plans to soak in each minute element of the expertise, hoping that this time round, he lastly will get his likelihood.
“I’m simply right here to be a small half within the profitable mindset that’s happening round right here,” Maggi mentioned. “So, if my identify known as, I’m able to go. I’ve been ready 13 years to see that first pitch. I’ll be prepared.”
