33-year-old Pirates rookie receives standing ovation after 13 years in the minors.

Drew Maggi Finally Makes It to the Big Leagues

After 13 seasons and 1,155 games in the minor leagues, Drew Maggi can finally call himself a full-fledged big leaguer. The 33-year-old infielder was called up this week by the Pittsburgh Pirates and received a standing ovation from teammates and the crowd at PNC Park when he stepped up to pinch hit for Andrew McCutchen in the eighth inning.

Despite being struck out by Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia, Maggi’s long-awaited moment was viewed as a big victory for the well-traveled competitor. “It’s the best strikeout I ever had,” he told ESPN. “I really can’t (put it into words). I can’t explain how I was feeling in the (batter’s) box. I didn’t even know what to do. You guys were cheering me on. I don’t know, I never expected that.”

A Long and Winding Road

Maggi’s journey to the big leagues has been a long and winding road. Originally a 15th-round selection by Pittsburgh in the 2010 draft, Maggi signed out of Arizona State University. However, his promising future with the franchise fizzled out fast. He would move on to play for the Angels, Dodgers, Indians, Twins, and Phillies organizations before coming back to the Pirates this season.

According to coverage in SI.com, Maggi found out about his call-up from Altoona Curve manager Callix Crabbe in front of the entire team. Crabbe gave a speech about the team’s core values and praised Maggi for embodying all of them. Then, the skipper revealed the emotional announcement. Maggi’s teammates were overjoyed for him and congratulated him on his dream becoming a reality.

Passion and Perseverance

Maggi’s passion and perseverance are gaining a lot of positive attention. “I love baseball,” he said after the game. “I was grinding for 13 years, but I was doing what I loved. The ultimate goal is the big leagues. Just kind of getting here, my name is in history. I put on a big league uniform, and I shared the field with the world’s greatest players.”

Maggi’s debut was a special moment for him and his family. “I saw my dad crying. I don’t think I ever saw him cry before. All those years, I wondered what I would say to my parents if that moment ever were to come,” he said. “They’ve been right there with me. Hearing those words made it all worthwhile. I know the last 13 years have not been wasted.”

What’s Next for Maggi and the Pirates?

The Pirates are off to a surprising start this season and are currently sitting atop the NL Central, 1 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee. Maggi’s call-up adds depth to the team’s infield and could help them continue their winning ways. The Pirates will begin a three-game series on Friday night against the Washington Nationals.