The Pirates plan to promote shortstop Gift Ngoepe, according to multiple reports, setting the stage for the debut of the first African-born player in Major League Baseball history.
Per MLB, Gift Ngoepe will be first major leader from South Africa. #Pirates expected to demote pitcher to make room.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 26, 2017
The 27-year-old Ngoepe became the first black South African to sign with a major league team when the Pirates gave him a $15,000 bonus in 2008 after seeing him play at an academy in Italy.