MIAMI -- Gift Ngoepe, the first player from Africa to reach the Majors, made his first start on Friday against the Marlins. The second baseman hit eighth in the order. He made his Major League debut on Wednesday with a single off Cubs left-hander Jon Lester in his first at-bat.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said he was infusing some defense at second base in his decision to give Ngoepe his first Major League start.
"That's it exactly," Hurdle said.
He said that given the whirlwind he's been on the last couple of days, controlling his emotions is the key at this point.