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Second baseman Gift Ngoepe did more than make history as the first African-born player in Major League Baseball. He went right to work helping the Pittsburgh Pirates pull out a win. Ngoepe entered the game as part of a double switch in the 4th inning on April 26 as the Pirates led the Chicago Cubs 5-1. With the debut, Ngoepe completed a journey that began in his native Randburg, South Africa, led him through eight years of minor league ball, and finally landed him on the infield at PNC Park. Ngope didn’t show any signs of nervousness as he went to the plate in the bottom of the inning and promptly rapped a single up the middle. He walked in his next at bat before striking out in his third as the Pirates hung on for the 6-5 win.

Read more about Gift Ngoepe’s MLB debut.

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