Best Hitter Performance, No. 10: Gift Ngoepe Hammers Triple, Home Run

INDIANAPOLIS - Gift Ngoepe's 2017 campaign featured a few highlight reel moments. Near the end of April, he became the first player from Africa to play in the major leagues. He singled in his first big league at-bat against Cubs left-hander Jon Lester, a three-time World Series Champion and four-time All-Star.

Ngoepe was eventually optioned back to Indianapolis in June, and the 27-year-old hit just .147 (16-for-109) with seven extra-base hits and five RBI in 33 games following the demotion. Ngoepe's fortunes finally turned on July 29 against Pawtucket and he finished the regular season strong, batting .289 (28-for-97) with 14 extra-base hits and 18 RBI in his final 29 contests.
In that game on July 29, Ngoepe fueled Indy early en route to a 5-3 win over the PawSox. With a runner on and two outs in the second, Ngoepe laced an RBI triple to right-center off Pawtucket right-hander Hector Velázquez. The fly ball momentarily found itself in the glove of center fielder Brian Bogusevic, but his hard landing near the warning track forced the ball free and allowed Ngoepe to sprint to third base. Two innings later, Ngoepe snapped a homerless drought of 104 at-bats when he parked a two-out, 2-0 offering from Velazquez onto the left field berm.
Ngoepe's showing at the dish was a rare feat for the defensive-minded infielder. In 796 career games, he has homered and tripled in the same contest three times.