PITTSBURGH -- Gift Ngoepe hopes to proudly represent his home country of South Africa in the Majors soon. In the meantime, the Pirates' shortstop will continue to do so in the World Baseball Classic.
Ngoepe, 26, has been added to South Africa's roster for the World Baseball Classic qualifying round, to be played Feb. 11-14 at Blacktown International Sportspark in Sydney, Australia. Ngoepe's South Africa team will compete against Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines for a spot in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, the fourth installment of the international tournament.
The qualifying round will begin on Feb.