A new Middle East and South Asia professional baseball league is launching that will feature a number of retired big leaguers.
“Former stars of Major League Baseball (MLB) have joined a baseball league based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE),” the Associated Press reported on Thursday.
“Former big leaguers including Bartolo Colon, Robinson Cano, Pablo Sandoval and Didi Gregorius have been named to teams in Baseball United, the first professional baseball league in the Middle East and South Asia,” the AP added.
Baseball United, a professional baseball league in the Middle East and South Asia, was founded last July. It was founded by agent and entrepreneur Kathy Shaikh and MLB Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera and Barry Larkin.
They recognized the market potential in the well-funded Middle East and in India and Pakistan, which have large cricketing populations. Baseball United has four teams – two in the UAE, one in India, and one in Pakistan – with plans to launch four more.안전놀이터
Each team assembled its roster through a 24-day draft that featured a number of former big leaguers.
With the first overall pick, the Mumbai Cobras selected Indian right-handed pitcher Karan Patel, who was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2017.
Colon, a 2005 Cy Young Award winner and four-time All-Star, was selected 16th overall by the Karachi Monarchs.
Cano, an eight-time All-Star who played for the Atlanta Braves last season, was selected sixth overall by the Dubai Wolves.
Gregorius, a former star shortstop for the New York Yankees, was selected by the Wolves with the third overall pick.
Sandoval, the Kung Fu Panda, was selected by the Abu Dhabi Falcons with the fourth overall pick.
There are some familiar faces from the KBO as well. Willin Rosario, 34, formerly of the Hanwha Eagles, was selected by the Wolves with the 24th overall pick.
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