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LEARN MOREApril 28, 2017
Almost 30 percent of Major League Baseball players this season were born outside the U.S., and that's not unusual.
But this week, Gift Ngoepe became the first ever African-born player to play in an MLB game.
The 27-year-old South African native played in the minor leagues for almost 10 years before hitting a single in his first at-bat in an MLB game.
In a league dominated by North and South Americans, Ngoepe's opportunity is a big deal.
"It doesn't matter where you come from, and no matter where you are or who you are, you can still make it," Ngoepe told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in an interview.
Playing in the MLB has been a ticket to fortune for many athletes worldwide, especially those from the Dominican Republic, which has 93 players representing it this season.
Ngoepe hopes his example will inspire other African baseball players.
