OTTAWA- Minor League baseball is a tough grind for aspiring Major Leaguers. After years of trying to achieve their dream and many miles sitting on a bus, players are released, traded or simply quit. That’s why recent news that Max St. Pierre (Québec City, QC) has finally made the big league’s after 14 years in the minor leagues is a remarkable feat.
The 30 year old St. Pierre has just under one-thousand (978 to be exact) games in the minor leagues and except for one season in 2007, all have been spent in the Tigers organization. He has played in every level of minor league baseball, from rookie ball up to triple-A.
For St. Pierre the journey to the big leagues began in 1997 when he was drafted by the Tigers in the 26th round, 775th overall. He spent five seasons (1997-2001) toiling in the lowest ranks of minor league baseball before getting a chance to play at the double-A level in 2002. From there, began a nine season sojourn between double-A and triple-A ball, mere steps away from the big leagues. In 2006, St. Pierre was a member of the Canadian entry in the inaugural World Baseball Classic.
This year St. Pierre has been playing for the Tigers triple-A affiliate in Toledo and is batting.300 with 5 homeruns and 22 RBI through 39 games. On August 31st, just after St. Pierre’s first at-bat in a game against Louisville, he was given the news that he was getting the call up to the Tigers.
"It felt great, but this hasn't really registered yet," St. Pierre said in an interview with the Toledo Blade. "I have chill bumps all over. My whole career, I've been working hard to get to the Major Leagues, and now I'm going to be there. I'm speechless."
