Drew Maggi’s dream has finally come true.
After 13 years as an infielder in the minor league system, Maggi was called up to the majors by the Pittsburgh Pirates after he played eight games in Double-A Altoona to begin the 2023 season. He was on the bench when the team defeated beat the Cincinnati Reds 2-0 on Sunday afternoon.
Maggi, 33, was called up when Bryan Reynolds was placed on the Dueling List and the team transferred first baseman Ji-Man Choi to the 50-day disabled list with a strained left Achilles tendon to make room in the 40 player roster.
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Drew Maggi of the Pittsburgh Pirates is held without a single during a spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Lecom Park on March 21, 2023, in Bradenton, Florida. (George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
«I always believed that this moment would come,» he said Sunday. «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 so grateful to be here and to be able to enjoy it. I’m excited for the day».
Maggi was selected by the Pirates in the 15th round of the 2010 draft. He was in the Pirates’ farm system from 2010 to 2014. He would later be in the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins, and Philadelphia organizations. Phillies before returning to the Pirates in 2022.
Callix Crabbe, manager of Altoona Curve, announced Maggi’s call-up in a video posted on Twitter.
Drew Maggi poses during the Pittsburgh Photo Day at Pirate City on February 22, 2023, in Bradenton, Florida. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
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«It’s my great pleasure to be able to promote my first person to the Major Leagues, someone who is tremendously important to this group and someone who exemplifies grit,» Crabbe said in the clip.
Maggie was crying.
«I definitely thought a lot about going back. I was getting a lot of texts, calling my family,» he said. «It’s two hours of travel. I had a lot of time. I was going through old photos, old memories and moments, just throughout my career. Photos of my family in different cities.
«It’s been a special 24 hours. It’s been crazy. I can’t explain it. I’m so thankful the Pirates did this for me. It’s crazy, man. Just being here and walking through the clubhouse. It’s been a dream.» . come true.»
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Maggi played over 1,000 games in the minor leagues. He has a .254 career batting average and 45 home runs.
Drew Maggi of the Cleveland Indians converts the double play over Justin Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch on March 1, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
It is unclear if Maggi will be able to participate in a game. Pittsburgh is off Monday and stays home to host the Dodgers.
Associated Press contributed to this report.