The Phillies' Brock Stassi made his first Major League roster and was overcome with emotion

In the final days leading up to the start of the season, tough roster decisions are made. Managers and coaching staffs convene and pore over certain guys who may be on the fringes of making the 25-man roster, and sometimes (often, really) these decisions can be tough. 
Brock Stassi, a 27-year-old first baseman/right fielder, was informed by Phillies manager Pete Mackanin that he made the roster after an impressive showing this spring and, as you see atop this post, Stassi was absolutely overwhelmed with emotion at receiving the good news.
As quoted by MLB.com's Ben Harris, he was nearly brought to tears: 
"A dream come true," Stassi said of his promotion, choking back tears. "I made it to the big leagues and can finally say I'm a big leaguer. It's special."
Stassi's is a story worth telling, and a great example of never giving up on yourself. A 33rd-round Draft pick by Philadelphia in 2011, he has yet to appear in a Major League game. He spent 2016 with the Phillies' Triple-A club in Lehigh Valley, hitting .267/.369/.437 in 117 games. 
This Spring Training, he turned heads thanks to displays like this:

His younger brother Max Stassi, a 26-year-old catcher for the Astros, congratulated him on Twitter for the good news and contextualized just why this is such a big deal: 

Congrats to my big brother @brockstassi28 !!! I couldn't be happier!!!!! pic.twitter.com/iBqcRtVJdX

— Max Stassi (@MaxStassi10) March 30, 2017

As for when Brock was called into the manager's office for that all-important chat on Thursday, well, Mackanin brought up the news in rather dramatic fashion:

Stassi, emotional in the clubhouse upon making 25-man roster, said Mackanin greeted him in the meeting by asking what number he wanted.

— Ben Harris (@byBenHarris) March 30, 2017

Said Mackanin to Harris of the encounter:
"I got a little choked up to be honest with you."
It's easy to see why, considering all that Stassi's been through to get where he is now: on a Major League Opening Day roster for the first time.

Don't ever give up on your dreams.