What does it take to reach the Major Leagues?

For most players, it’s years of development, opportunity, and timing.

For John Bormann, it took one phone call, a cross-state sprint, and a moment that would change his life forever.

In Episode 2 of Sacred Grounds with Robby and Uncle Paulie, hosts Robbie Incmikoski and Paul Hogan break down one of the most unbelievable Pittsburgh Pirates stories ever told, a real life example of how quickly everything can change in baseball.

From Single A to the MLB in Hours

On April 30, 2017, Francisco Cervelli woke up sick.

That one moment created a chain reaction.

The Pirates needed a catcher immediately.

There was no time to call someone up from Triple A.

So they turned to a backup catcher in Single A.

John Bormann.

Within minutes, Bormann went from preparing for a minor league game to being told he was heading to the big leagues.

No warning. No buildup. Just go.

The Call-Up Journey Across Florida

Bormann’s path to the MLB wasn’t a flight. It was a race.

• A last-minute call from Pirates staff
• A two hour drive across Alligator Alley
• Teammates celebrating as he left
• Phone calls to family while watching the MLB game on the way

By the time he arrived, the game was already underway.

This wasn’t a typical debut.

This was survival mode.

The MLB At-Bat That Changed Everything

Late in the game, something rare happened.

Josh Harrison made a decision that defines baseball culture.

He gave up his at-bat.

Not for strategy.

Not for stats.

For a teammate.

That decision gave Bormann his one and only Major League at-bat.

No batting practice.

No prep swings.

Just one opportunity under the lights.

He got one pitch to hit.

And like so many players are told growing up

you only get one pitch in the big leagues.

The Hidden Impact of a 40-Man Roster Move

This story isn’t just about one at-bat.

It’s about what happened behind the scenes.

Bormann’s call-up triggered a move to the 40-man roster, which came with:

• A massive salary increase from minor league pay
• Financial stability that changed his future
• The ability to invest in education and life after baseball

What looked like one day in the MLB

became a life changing moment

As Robbie says in the episode:

“Cervelli catches a cold… Bormann buys a house.”

What This Story Says About Baseball Culture

This episode highlights what makes baseball different.

• Teammates putting others first
• Veterans helping younger players get their moment
• Opponents showing respect in once in a lifetime situations
• Relationships that last far beyond the game

It’s not just about stats.

It’s about people.

Life After Baseball

Today, John Bormann is no longer chasing the big leagues.

He’s building a life beyond the game:

• Married with a family
• Working in real estate finance and development
• Using the lessons from baseball in his next chapter

But that one day in 2017 still echoes.

Because moments like that never leave you.