Gift Ngoepe, MLB's first African-born player

[The Omega Concern]

Just heard about this guy today. Most unbelievable awesome story to ever to end up in the majors.

Gift grew up outside Johannesburg poverty stricken and homeless for much of the time.

His mother found work at a stadium and in return was allowed to live in the clubhouse, where Gift then grew up. The stadium was a dual cricket/baseball field and he eventually grew to love baseball, playing with some club team of older guys. He got better as things went along and eventually made some South African team that traveled about.


He was never really coached up properly however, so at a 3 week camp in Italy coached by former Reds player Barry Larkin, a Pirate scout noticed Gift's raw athleticism...and decided to sign him. That was in 2008, when he was 18.

He hit .214 in his 8th season in the minors last year. This spring, the pirates hitting coach told him to forget everything he's been coached and just 'see ball, hit ball'. Something clicked from that point. In 2 games thus far in the majors, he's 4 for 5 with 3 walks.

[The Omega Concern]

that just scratches the surface of this guy. In the minors, he's been found sleeping in the clubhouse because that's where he feels most at home. Players heard about this guy, but no one ever thought he'd actually get this far.


A Conversation With Gift Ngoepe, Your New Favorite Baseball Player

[The Omega Concern]