After playing 1,155 minor-league games across 13 years, veteran infielder Drew Maggi is finally set to get his chance in the MLB. Maggi was called up to the majors by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday and added to the team’s 40-man roster.
In corresponding moves, the Pirates transferred outfielder Bryan Reynolds to the bereavement list and placed first baseman Ji-Man Choi on the 60-day injured list.
Maggi, who turns 34 in May, was drafted by the Pirates in the 15th round of the 2010 MLB Draft. He spent four years with the organization before embarking on stints with the Los Angeles Angels, the LA Dodgers, the Cleveland Indians, the Minnesota Twins, and the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite coming close a few times, the Phoenix, Arizona native never got a chance to play on the biggest stage.
Maggi returned to the Pirates last year and made a strong case in spring training but failed to make the major league roster. He was assigned to Double-A Altoona Curve to start 2022, playing eight games and batting .194 with three RBIs and one stolen base.
“I always believed this moment would come,” Maggi said on Sunday. “There was a little bit of me that was like, ‘You love playing baseball. Keep going, no matter where you’re at. Crazy things happen in this game.’ So, I’m very thankful that I’m here and I get to enjoy this.”
In his 1,155 games in the minor league, Maggi batted .254 and had 354 RBIs, 45 homers, and 222 stolen bases.
