Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
Gift Ngoepe set to become MLB's first African-born player after Pirates promotion
Published
Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET
Sports Illustrated, SI Wire/Sports Illustrated
The Pittsburgh Pirates have called up shortstop Gift Ngoepe and when the South African shortstop makes his Major League debut, he will become the first African-born player in the league's history.
The Pirates optioned Dovydas Neverauskas, the first Lithuanian to pitch in the Majors, to Triple-A in order to make room for Ngoepe on the active roster.
• A gift from Africa - Gary Smith on Ngoepe from 2009
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Ngoepe is 27 years old and spent 8 1/2 years with the Pirates organization. He signed in September 2008 and was added to the 40-man roster in November 2015.
He could be a utility infielder with his experience at seconds and third base. He was hitting .241 in 15 games for Triple-A Indianapolis before getting the call up.
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