Gift Ngoepe Stats & Scouting Report

AB	72
AVG	.181
OBP	.272
SLG	.236
HR	0

Full name Mpho' Gift Ngoepe
Born 01/18/1990 in Pietersburg, South Africa
Profile Ht.: 5'8" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Rand Park
Debut 04/26/2017

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Ngoepe became the first black South African to sign a contract with an affiliated club when he caught the Pirates' eye at a tournament in Italy in 2008. Ngoepe's story has been well-chronicled. He was literally raised in the clubhouse of an amateur baseball team in Randburg, a suburb of Johannesburg, during apartheid while his mother Maureen worked as the team's cleaning woman and groundskeeper. Ngoepe has the tools to be an above-average shortstop, with good range and instincts along with a strong arm. He is also an above-average runner and a threat on the bases. While Ngoepe is willing to take walks, his offensive game has been sabotaged by his inability to lay off breaking pitches out of the zone, which has led to plenty of strikeouts. He began 2013 at Double-A Altoona, then missed a month after heading home to attend his mother's funeral. Ngoepe headed for high Class A Bradenton once he returned to the U.S., and he hit well, leading to hopes he will do better in 2014 in his second taste of Double-A.
Ngoepe is proving to be more than a great story. The Pirates signed him for $15,000 in 2008 after seeing him play at Major League Baseball's academy in Italy, and his tale of becoming the first black South African ever signed by a big league organization was prominently featured in Sports Illustrated in 2009. Ngoepe has made huge strides in going from a raw athlete to an above-average defender with outstanding range and a strong arm. Managers rated him as the Florida State League's top defensive shortstop last year. His speed is a tick above-average and he has improved his instincts on the bases, though he still has more work to do in that regard. Ngoepe's bat is still a major question mark. He hit just .232 in high Class A in 2012, and he must make more contact from both sides of the plate and learn to use the whole field. After hitting just four homers in his first three pro seasons, he went deep nine times last year, and he has enough strength in his wrists to develop decent power for a middle infielder. Ngoepe has the defensive ability to play shortstop in the major leagues, but his bat will dictate whether he gets there. Double-A will provide a stern test for him in 2013.

Minor League Top Prospects

The FSL was filled with glove wizards at shortstop, none better than Ngoepe. The South African has plus range and arm strength to go with soft hands, though like many young shortstops he sometimes tries to do too much. Ngoepe has a chance to be a respectable hitter (albeit without much power) as well. A switch-hitter, he needs to use the opposite field more often but has the work ethic to make the necessary adjustments. He's an aggressive baserunner with solid speed. "This guy may come on like crazy in the next couple of years," Jupiter manager Andy Haines said. "Every time I saw him I liked him more. He has strong hands and wrists. I think the bat can develop."

Best Tools List

Rated Best Defensive Infielder in the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2014
Rated Best Defensive Infielder in the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013
Rated Best Defensive SS in the Florida State League in 2012

Career Transactions

2B Gift Ngoepe roster status changed by Canberra Cavalry.
2B Gift Ngoepe assigned to Canberra Cavalry.
2B Gift Ngoepe roster status changed by Canberra Cavalry.
2B Gift Ngoepe and assigned to South Africa.
3B Gift Ngoepe assigned to Melbourne Aces.
2B Gift Ngoepe and assigned to South Africa.
Sydney Blue Sox placed 3B Gift Ngoepe on the reserve list.
Lancaster Barnstormers placed 3B Gift Ngoepe on the temporarily inactive list.
Lancaster Barnstormers signed free agent 3B Gift Ngoepe.
Altoona Curve released 3B Gift Ngoepe.
Pittsburgh Pirates signed free agent 3B Gift Ngoepe to a minor league contract.
3B Gift Ngoepe assigned to Altoona Curve.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs released 3B Gift Ngoepe.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs activated 3B Gift Ngoepe from the 7-day injured list.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs placed 3B Gift Ngoepe on the 7-day injured list. Left shin contusion
Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent 3B Gift Ngoepe to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
3B Gift Ngoepe assigned to Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Sydney Blue Sox activated 3B Gift Ngoepe.
Sydney Blue Sox placed 3B Gift Ngoepe on the reserve list.
3B Gift Ngoepe assigned to Sydney Blue Sox.
Buffalo Bisons released 3B Gift Ngoepe.
Buffalo Bisons activated 3B Gift Ngoepe from the temporarily inactive list.
Buffalo Bisons placed 3B Gift Ngoepe on the temporarily inactive list.
Buffalo Bisons activated 3B Gift Ngoepe from the 7-day disabled list.
Buffalo Bisons placed 3B Gift Ngoepe on the 7-day disabled list.
Toronto Blue Jays sent 3B Gift Ngoepe outright to Buffalo Bisons.
Toronto Blue Jays designated SS Gift Ngoepe for assignment.
Toronto Blue Jays optioned SS Gift Ngoepe to Buffalo Bisons.
Toronto Blue Jays recalled Gift Ngoepe from Buffalo Bisons.
Pittsburgh Pirates traded SS Gift Ngoepe to Toronto Blue Jays.
Toronto Blue Jays optioned SS Gift Ngoepe to Buffalo Bisons.
Pittsburgh Pirates recalled SS Gift Ngoepe from Indianapolis Indians.
Indianapolis Indians activated SS Gift Ngoepe from the 7-day disabled list.
Indianapolis Indians sent SS Gift Ngoepe on a rehab assignment to West Virginia Black Bears.
Indianapolis Indians placed SS Gift Ngoepe on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to June 20, 2017. Strained left hamstring.
Pittsburgh Pirates optioned SS Gift Ngoepe to Indianapolis Indians.
Pittsburgh Pirates recalled Gift Ngoepe from Indianapolis Indians.
Pittsburgh Pirates optioned SS Gift Ngoepe to Indianapolis Indians.
Pittsburgh Pirates recalled Gift Ngoepe from Indianapolis Indians.
Indianapolis Indians activated SS Gift Ngoepe.
SS Gift Ngoepe roster status changed by Indianapolis Indians.
Pittsburgh Pirates optioned SS Gift Ngoepe to Indianapolis Indians.
Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of Gift Ngoepe from Indianapolis Indians.
SS Gift Ngoepe assigned to South Africa.
Indianapolis Indians activated SS Gift Ngoepe from the 7-day disabled list.
Indianapolis Indians placed SS Gift Ngoepe on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to July 27, 2015. Left oblique strain
SS Gift Ngoepe assigned to Indianapolis Indians from Altoona Curve.
Pittsburgh Pirates invited non-roster 2B Gift Ngoepe to spring training.
SS Gift Ngoepe assigned to Altoona Curve from Bradenton Marauders.
SS Gift Ngoepe assigned to Pittsburgh Pirates.
SS Gift Ngoepe assigned to Bradenton Marauders from Altoona Curve.
Gift Ngoepe roster status changed by Altoona Curve.
SS Gift Ngoepe assigned to Altoona Curve from Bradenton Marauders.
SS Gift Ngoepe assigned to Pittsburgh Pirates.
Gift Ngoepe assigned to Bradenton Marauders from West Virginia Power.
SS Gift Ngoepe assigned to Pittsburgh Pirates.
Sydney Blue Sox placed SS Gift Ngoepe on the reserve list.
SS Gift Ngoepe assigned to Sydney Blue Sox.
Gift Ngoepe roster status changed by West Virginia Power.
sent SS Gift Ngoepe on a rehab assignment to GCL Pirates.
West Virginia Power placed SS Gift Ngoepe on the 7-day disabled list.
SS Gift Ngoepe assigned to West Virginia Power from State College Spikes.
2B Gift Ngoepe assigned to Pittsburgh Pirates.
Gift Ngoepe assigned to State College Spikes from Bradenton Marauders.
Gift Ngoepe assigned to Bradenton Marauders from State College Spikes.
Gift Ngoepe assigned to State College Spikes from Bradenton Marauders.
Gift Ngoepe assigned to Bradenton Marauders from GCL Pirates.
2B Gift Ngoepe assigned to Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pittsburgh Pirates signed free agent SS Gift Ngoepe to a minor league contract.