Gift Ngoepe

Mpho' Gift Ngoepe ( ; born 18 January 1990) is a South African former professional baseball shortstop and second baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017 and Toronto Blue Jays in 2018. He was the first South African and the first native of continental Africa to reach the major leagues. He is currently the bench coach of the Hillsboro Hops.

Professional career Pittsburgh Pirates A native of Randburg, Ngoepe became the first black South African, and the sixth South African to sign a professional baseball contract when he signed in October 2008. When Ngoepe was growing up, his mother was a clubhouse attendant for the Randburg Mets, and they lived in one of the clubhouse rooms. He was invited to Major League Baseball's academy in Tirrenia, Italy, where the Pirates signed him.

In 2009, Ngoepe played for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Pirates, and batted .238/.341/.281 with one home run, nine runs batted in (RBI), and 13 stolen bases in 47 games. On 10 August, Sports Illustrated published an article on Ngoepe covering how he started his baseball career, his upbringing, and time with the Pirates. In 2010, he played 64 games with the Short Season-A State College Spikes and two with the Advanced-A Bradenton Marauders, batting a combined .206/.316/.318 with one home run, 20 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. He batted .297/.354/.440 with two home runs and five RBI before the injury. He played for the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple-A International League in 2016.

On 26 April 2017, the Pirates promoted Ngoepe to the major leagues from Indianapolis. This made him the first continental African player, and the first player from an independent African nation, to reach the Major Leagues. Ngoepe made his Major League debut that day, and recorded his first career hit, a single off Cubs' starting pitcher Jon Lester. Because of time zone differences, Ngoepe's MLB debut fell on the early morning of 27 April in South Africa, observed in that country as Freedom Day, memorializing the 1994 election that was the first in which the country's black population was allowed to vote. In 2017 with Pittsburgh, he batted .222/.323/.296 in 28 games.

Toronto Blue Jays On 20 November 2017, Ngoepe was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations or a player to be named later. He earned a spot on the active roster to begin the season but was optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on 20 April, with whom he batted .168/.304/.252. With Toronto, he had one hit in 19 at bats. The Blue Jays released Ngoepe on 13 August.

Sydney Blue Sox On 30 August 2018, Ngoepe signed with the Sydney Blue Sox of the Australian Baseball League (a winter league) for the 2018–19 season. He batted .357/.451/.700

Philadelphia Phillies On 11 January 2019, Ngoepe signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He played for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, and batted .221/.296/.410 with 5 home runs and 21 RBIs in 122 at bats, playing second base, third base, and shortstop. He batted .100/.289/.100 in 30 at bats. He was released on 30 July.

Québec Capitales On 30 March 2021, Ngoepe signed with the Québec Capitales of the Frontier League. In 82 games he hit .281/.377/.464 with 9 home runs, 47 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.

Coaching career Newport Rams On 16 March 2022, Ngoepe became a coach with the Newport Rams of Baseball Victoria. On 8 January 2024, Ngoepe was named the manager for the ACL Diamondbacks. On 15 January 2025, Ngoepe was promoted to serve as the bench coach for the Single-A Visalia Rawhide. On 23 January 2026, Ngoepe was promoted to the bench coach of the High-A Hillsboro Hops.

Personal life Ngoepe is married and has a son. Ngoepe's younger brother, Victor, also played in the minor leagues with the Pirates.