Pirates’ Drew Maggi makes MLB debut after taking part in 1,154 video games in minors
PITTSBURGH — After 13 years within the minor leagues, Drew Maggi was greeted with a standing ovation when he made his main league debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday evening.
The 33-year-old, who performed 1,154 video games within the minors, pinch hit for five-time All-Star McCutchen within the eighth inning with the Pirates forward by seven runs. Maggi noticed 4 pitches from Alex Vesia, putting out on a slider, in an at-bat that included a pitch-clock violation by the rookie batter.
“It’s the most effective strikeout I ever had,” Maggi mentioned with a smile after the Pirates beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-1.
After making 4,494 plate appearances within the minors,Maggio was known as up from Double-A Altoona on Sunday when outfielder Bryan Reynolds was positioned on the bereavement record. Supervisor Derek Shelton didn’t discover a spot to make use of Maggi throughout his first two video games in Pittsburgh and Maggi was petrified of a repeat of 2019, when he was known as up by Minnesota for a number of days however didn not seem in a sport.
Shelton, who was Twins’ bench coach then, was thrilled that he was capable of get Maggi in.
“That was cool. That was actually cool,” Shelton mentioned. “I imply to have the ability to, so long as I’ve identified him, to have the ability to be the person who was telling him (to pinch-hit) was simply actually cool.”
“That is it. That is the second,’” Maggio remembered considering.
He fouled a fastball deep down the left-field line and fell behind 0-2 on the clock violation as the group of 12,152 booed plate umpire Jeff Nelson.
After fouling one other fastball to the suitable facet, Maggi took a high-and-outside fastball earlier than swinging over a pitch within the grime. He ran to first, the place catcher Austin Wynn’s throw to Freddie Freeman simply beat him for the out.
Maggi mentioned he by no means had any regrets for spending greater than a decade within the minors. Nonetheless, he admitted Wednesday’s at-bat made all these years of chasing his dream price it.
“I like baseball,” Maggi mentioned. “I used to be grinding for 13 years however I used to be doing what I beloved. The last word aim is the massive leagues. Simply sort of getting right here, my title is in historical past. I placed on an enormous league uniform, and I shared the sector with the world’s best gamers.”
Maggi spent a number of moments after the sport visiting with household alongside the field seat railing. The magnitude of the second hit him as soon as he noticed his dad and mom, who had made the journey from Phoenix, and different relations.
“There have been lots of `I like you. We’re pleased with you. You probably did it,!” Maggi mentioned. “I noticed my dad crying. I don’t suppose I ever noticed him cry earlier than. All these years, I questioned what I might say to my dad and mom if that second ever have been to return. They’ve been proper there with me. Listening to these phrases made all of it worthwhile. I do know the final 13 years haven’t been wasted.”