It took 11 long years – which was a total of 1,042 games and 4,075 plate appearances in the minor leagues with five organizations – but infielder Drew Maggi finally managed to see action in the majors with the Minnesota Twins club.
The little things kept him going as he put his personal life aside for a decade to pursue his big league dream. He is not married or has children. He’s earned a minor league salary for all that time. But a text from his mother to continue or a message from his friend saying “We believe in you,” and the few opportunities he kept taking advantage of helped him move forward and come back year after year.
When Maggi, 32, was called into manager Rocco Baldelli’s office on Saturday, the third baseman panicked because he thought he was in trouble. Baldelli and first base coach Tommy Atkins asked him where he was on Friday night during Maggi’s first trip with the big team as part of the Minnesota rotating roster. Maggi insisted he simply went to get a drink from the bar at the hotel.
“Baldelli told me that that was exactly what he should be doing,” Maggi recalled. “Then he said, ‘Congratulations, you’re a major league now.’ My heart and my emotions were uncontrollable. “
Do-Hyoung Park / MLB.com
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