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South African makes US MLB debut
Ngoepe entered the game playing second base in the fourth inning of the Pirates 6-5 win over the Chicago Cubs.
Gift Ngoepe of the Pittsburgh Pirates makes his major league debut in the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 26, 2017
Ngoepe, from Polokwane, South Africa, entered the game playing second base in the fourth inning of the Pirates 6-5 win over the Chicago Cubs. John Bell's home run in the sixth inning provided the winning score.
The 27-year-old Ngoepe was recalled by Pittsburgh from their minor league affiliate Indianapolis earlier in the day.
In addition to his hit up the middle of the field in the fouth inning, he walked in the sixth and struck out in the eighth.
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Ngoepe was signed at age 18 as a non-drafted free agent in September 2008. In 15 games this season with Indianapolis, he is batting .241 with four runs batted in.
Ngoepe was rated by Baseball America as the "Best Defensive Infielder" in the Pirates minor league system each of the last five seasons (2013-2017).
He led all International League shortstops in fielding percentage (.984) while playing with Indianapolis last year.
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