Breaking: Gift Ngoepe becomes first African born to star in MLB

Yesterday 26TH April, 2017 a South African Gift Ngoepe forced a change in the American Major League Baseball (MLB) records of 114 years. 

The 27-year-old infielder was called up to the Pittsburgh Pirates and so became the first player hailing from Africa to make their major-league debut. Ngoepe was inserted into the lineup during a double switch on Wednesday and promptly singled in his first at-bat off Cubs pitcher Jon Lester. 

Ngoepe finished the game 1-for-2 with a single, walk and strikeout and the Pirates prevailed 6-5.

“It’s a dream come true for me because it’s been my dream since I was a 10-year-old boy, but it also means so much to the people of South Africa and baseball in Africa,” Ngoepe said before the game.

“Baseball is still very much in the development stages (in Africa), and hopefully this gets more people interested.”