African-born player demoted

The Pittsburgh Pirates have optioned infielder Gift Ngoepe to the minor leagues about a month after he debuted as the first Africanborn player in the majors.

The slick-fielding South African singled in his first plate appearance last month, but batted .222 without a homer in 28 games prior to the demotion.

Ngoepe picked up baseball as a child because his family lived in the clubhouse of a men’s league ballpark where his mother worked.

Ngoepe is headed to triple-A Indianapolis.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle says he told the 27-year-old to work on his two-strike approach and small-ball hitting. Hurdle told him that if he shows those skills next time he comes to the majors, “you can stay.”

Seattle’s Segura on DL

The injury problems that have decimated the Seattle Mariners continued on Friday with shortstop Jean Segura being placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right high-ankle sprain and no set timetable on a possible return.

Segura ranks second in the AL with a .341 batting average.