The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed outfielder Bryan Reynolds on the Bereavement List prior to Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds. To take his place on the active roster, infielder Drew Maggi has been called up from Altoona.
The 33-year-old Maggi has been in the majors for two days with the 2021 Minnesota Twins, but he has never played a Major League game. He was originally drafted by the Pirates back in 2010. He has played 1,155 minor league games over 13 seasons. He is hitting .194/.242/.226 in eight games for Altoona this season.
Maggi hit .344/.417/.688 this spring in 26 games, as was among one of the final cuts from Spring Training.
The Pirates needed to make room on the 40-man roster to add Maggi. First baseman Ji-Man Choi has been moved to the 60-day Injured List. He is expected to miss at least another six weeks according to recent reports, so including rehab time, he wasn’t expected back before the full 60 days (from April 14th) would be up.
This seems to be a nice reward for a baseball lifer, who not only had a strong spring, but he accepted an assignment to Double-A due to the roster situations at Indianapolis.
Trips to the Bereavement List usually don’t last long unless the player needs more time, so Maggi will probably be around for a short time. It also would explain why the Pirates didn’t go to another 40-man option like outfielder Cal Mitchell.
Here’s hoping he gets into today’s game so he doesn’t have to wait much longer for his big league debut, especially with tomorrow being an off-day.
Enjoy this video of him finding out
It’s been a hell of a journey for Drew Maggi. pic.twitter.com/KPjXxLSj1B
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 23, 2023
John started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball.
When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.
BC said Reynolds will be back Tuesday.
I don’t care if he spends 1 day or several, or even if he doesn’t get a plate appearance. If you don’t get a little teary eyed watching that video, you’d better check your pulse cuz you might be dead.
I’ll say this much for Maggi – compared to a shirtless Neil Walker, Maggi looks like Mr. Universe.
Hope everything goes well for Reynolds. This feels like a “Rudy” moment waiting to happen. Walk off ground out to second for Maggi.
Just don’t send him back without getting him in.
Completely agree. Get this Maggi melodrama over with.
Would be a d bag move. Especially after the speech.
Whatever Reynolds is going thru, prayers. And best of luck to Maggi. I hope he gets to play!
Now…..let’s sweep the Reds!
This may explain his sudden cold streak. I to offer prayers for Brian and his family. Baseball is hard enough when you are in a good spot and able to concentrate on the game.
According to Dejan, his uncle, with whom he’s very close, has been ill for a while. Wasn’t sure that’s the cause, but could be.
yeah he mentioned in one of those post game Robbie interviews when he was on fire that “this is for his uncle chuck”
Hopefully the Pirates can get a huge lead so Maggi can get a couple of pa’s and innings in the field and of course if it goes the other way hopefully the same thing can happen!