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A22 SPORTS
Saturday 10 March 2018
Ngoepe had busy offseason promoting baseball in South Africa

By ROB MAADDI energy, he's a tremendous
AP Sports Writer kid and I've been impressed
DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Gift with his defense. It's hard to
Ngoepe had quite the busy find guys who can field like
offseason. he does."
After becoming the first The 28-year-old Ngoepe is
African-born player to a career .231 hitter with a
reach the major leagues .320 on-base percentage
last season, Ngoepe was in nine seasons in the mi-
traded from Pittsburgh to nors.
Toronto and spent almost “My expectation is to do
three months back home in the best I can every single
South Africa promoting the day I’m out there and play
sport. with everything I have,”
"Just trying to make the he said. “Whether I make
sport a little bigger, make the big league club or not,
more people interested it’s not going to break me
and playing so we have a down. Go out there and
bigger population for base- have fun. I’m usually a per-
ball," Ngoepe told The As- son who thinks a lot and
sociated Press on Friday. overanalyzes everything so
"Hopefully me making it to this year I told myself we’re
the big leagues and every- not going to go that route
body knowing that there This is a 2018 file photo showing Gift Ngoepe of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team. and we’re going to have
is baseball in South Africa, Associated Press fun. No matter how the
there will be more interest season is going, stay posi-
and more younger children what, this is not the right to MLB scouting camps in The slick-fielding infielder tive in each and every as-
coming to play baseball." way and sport is where it's Italy in 2007 and 2008, and was sent to the Blue Jays in pect of the game.”
Ngoepe had many media going to make life better was signed by the Pirates in November and is trying to Ngoepe knew one famil-
requests so he did plenty for you." 2008. earn a spot on the roster. iar face when he joined
of talking about baseball in Ngoepe learned baseball He struggled in a differ- "He can handle the glove the Blue Jays. He first met
interviews. He also was in- in a country where the ent country but continued with anybody, a great de- teammate Curtis Grander-
volved in youth programs. sport isn't popular because chasing his dream and fi- fensive fielder out there," son in 2007 when the three-
"I enjoyed my time and I his family lived in the club- nally made it to the majors Blue Jays manager John time All-Star made a trip to
enjoyed playing with kids, house of a men's league last year when the Pirates Gibbons said. "You can put Johannesburg, South Af-
especially down in the de- ballpark where his mother called up him from Triple-A him at any spot, a great rica, as an ambassador for
velopment areas where worked. Indianapolis. kid. He's working on some baseball.
gangster life is the life over He lived there from age 2 to Ngoepe singled off Chica- adjustments with the bat. Granderson, who played
there," Ngoepe said. "So we 18 and eventually played go Cubs ace Jon Lester in If he gets the bat going, he for the Tigers at the time,
tried to change their mind- for the Randburg Mets. He his first at-bat and batted can be a really good ma- encouraged Ngoepe to
set and be like you know was good enough to go .222 (12 for 54) in 28 games. jor league player. He brings pursue his dream.q

Boone already making impression on Hal Steinbrenner

By MARK DIDTLER bathia had no doubt that he is, his impact in our room
Associated Press Boone had what it takes to is enormous,” Boone said.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Yan- manage when they were “I think he touches a lot of
kees managing general teammates with Cleveland guys in there with his profes-
partner Hal Steinbrenner in 2005-06. sionalism and his willingness
is impressed with Aaron Boone, who celebrated to be a mentor. I think it’s
Boone without seeing him his 45th birthday on Friday, important you have guys
manage a regular-season dissected the game like a in a clubhouse where mes-
game. manager while sitting on sages don’t always have
Boone was hired to re- the bench. to come from me or my
place the fired Joe Girardi "He was serious with it," Sa- coaching staff.”
on Dec. 4. He went to the bathia said. "He was really It’s a role Sabathia ac-
broadcast booth after his good at it. I'm just happy cepts.
career ended in 2009 and people are going to get “I think that’s what I’m here
has no major league man- to know his personality like to do,” Sabathia said. “Ob-
aging or coaching experi- I do. I think we just hit it off viously perform and try to
ence. Boone is part of the first Kansas City (1995-97) and right away." pitch well, but to also try to
Steinbrenner likes what he family to produce three Cincinnati (2001-03). Sabathia’s leadership will be that presence and be
has seen from Boone dur- generations of major "He's a knowledgeable play a key role in the club- here for guys. I can’t say I
ing spring training. league players. His father, guy," Steinbrenner said. house as the Yankees look was the leader when Derek
"Calm, cool, collect, got Bob, had a 19-year career "He's had a lot of help along to reach the World Series (Jeter) and Andy (Pettitte)
a good sense of humor," and his grandfather, Ray, the way from grandfathers, one year after losing Game and those guys were here,
Steinbrenner said. "Has a spent 13 years playing. His fathers and his own experi- 7 of the ALCS to Houston. but I felt like I was one.
really good rapport in a older brother, Bret, was on ence. I think he's going to “Just now being here with But it naturally happened
group setting or individual the field for 14 years. be great." him and as the elder states- when those guys starting
setting with the players." Bob Boone also managed Yankees left-hander CC Sa- man, as the veteran that retiring.”q