Gift Ngoepe

Gift Ngoepe, born in 1990, was a professional baseball player who made history during his brief career in Major League Baseball (MLB) from April 26, 2017, to May 1, 2018. As a position player, he became notable for being the first player from South Africa to reach the major leagues, a significant milestone in the global expansion of baseball. Ngoepe played a total of 41 games in the MLB, showcasing his skills primarily as an infielder. Throughout his career, Ngoepe recorded 13 hits and 6 RBIs, finishing with a batting average of .181. While he did not hit any home runs or steal any bases during his time in the league, his presence on the field and his journey from South Africa to the MLB inspired many aspiring athletes in his home country and beyond. Ngoepe's career, though short-lived, contributed to the growing narrative of baseball's international reach and the increasing diversity within the sport during the late 2010s.