Indian pitchers Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel, neither of whom had picked up a baseball until earlier this year, signed free-agent contracts on Monday with major league team Pittsburgh Pirates.
The two 20-year-olds came to the US six months ago after being the top finishers in an Indian reality TV show called the Million Dollar Arm, which drew about 30,000 contestants. The show sought to find athletes who could throw strikes at 85mph (134kph) or faster.
While neither pitcher threw hard enough to earn the US$1 million prize, Singh made US$100,000 from the contest and Patel made US$2,500, plus his trip to the US.
PHOTO: AP
The contest was sponsored by a California sports management company that believed it could locate major league-worthy arms in a country of more than 1 billion. After working extensively with Southern California pitching coach Tom House since May, the pitchers staged a tryout in Tempe, Arizona on Nov. 6 that was attended by 30 major league scouts.
“The Pirates are committed to creatively adding talent to our organization,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said on Monday.
“By adding these two young men, the Pirates are pleased to not only add two prospects to our system but also hope to open a pathway to an untapped market. We are intrigued by Patel’s arm strength and Singh’s frame and potential,” he said.
PHOTO: AP
Neither pitcher has taken the mound in a game situation but have pitched in practice matches against junior college competition.
Both threw the javelin in India, a country best known for producing cricket players, and neither had left his small village before coming to the US.
The 1.8m, 84kg Patel hit 145 kph on the radar gun during his tryout, and 1.95m, 88kg Singh topped out at 135 kph.
Each has thrown harder during workout sessions that weren’t attended by scouts.
“Think of them as two Dominican kids,” House told the scouts. “They’re very raw. But I think this has a huge upside.”
When they first came to the US and began playing catch, the pitchers were mystified by the concept of gloves and had to be taught not to try to catch the ball with their bare hands.
Despite being more than raw, the Indian duo were signed by well-known agent Jeff Borris, who was attracted by their potential after watching them train.
Borris estimates they will need three to four years of minor league experience before becoming major league ready.
Patel and Singh are learning English, most of which they have picked up from watching ESPN’s Baseball Tonight and by taking online classes.
TAIWANESE EXITS: Fellow Australian Christopher O’Connell joined Tristan Schoolkate as a winner following his 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Tseng Hsin-chun Australian qualifier Tristan Schoolkate on Monday dispatched rising Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 at the ATP Toronto Masters, ensuring a breakthrough into the world top 100. The 24-year-old from Perth moved to 98th in the ongoing live rankings as he claimed his biggest career victory by knocking out the ATP NextGen champion from November last year. Schoolkate, son of a tennis coach, won his first match over a top-50 opponent on his sixth attempt as he ousted the world No. 49 teenager from Brazil. The qualifier played a quarter-final this month in Los Cabos and won through qualifying for his
Top seeds Alexander Zverev of Germany and American Coco Gauff on Tuesday advanced to the third round of the Canadian Open after both players were pushed hard by their opponents. World No. 3 Zverev, playing in his first match since his first-round loss at Wimbledon, was far from his best, but emerged with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 win over Adam Walton under the lights in Toronto. Momentum shifted firmly in Zverev’s favor when he won a 52-shot rally in the first set tiebreak and he sealed the win on a double fault by the Australian in the second set. “It was a very
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
RSS