PITTSBURGH -- A 27-year-old former Indianapolis Indians baseball player made MLB history Wednesday night.
Gift Ngoepe, who played in more than 100 games for the Indians, became the first African-born player to reach the major leagues when he entered a game for the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday.
Ngoepe was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis and entered the game in fourth inning as part of a double switch and finished 1 for 2 with a walk. The South African, who signed with the Pirates in 2008 as an amateur free agent, led off the fourth with a hit off Cubs ace Jon Lester.
"To accomplish this only for me but for my country and my continent is something so special," Ngoepe said. "There are 1.62 billion people on our continent. To be the first person out of 1.62 billion to do this is amazing."
It was so special that Ngoepe nearly broke into tears when he trotted from the dugout to take his position at second base.
"I told myself not to cry because I'm in the big leagues and I'm a big guy now," Ngoepe said with a smile. "(Catcher Francisco) Cervelli hugged me and I could feel my heart beat through my chest."
What a moment. pic.twitter.com/59UyHlrdz3
— Pirates (@Pirates) April 27, 2017
The Pirates won, 6-5.
Ngoepe was suspended for part of last season when he was with the Indians after he was arrested following a fight in Toledo, Ohio.
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