Pirates Sign Two Indian-Born Pitchers With Eye On Expanding Market
The Pirates yesterday signed free-agent Ps Dinesh Kumar Patel and Rinku Singh, who are "believed to be the first Indian-born athletes to sign pro contracts outside of their country," according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW. Patel and Singh "have no baseball experience, other than a stint on 'Million Dollar Arm,' a television reality show in India." The show "rewarded anyone who could throw strikes at 85 mph or faster." Neither Patel nor Singh won the million dollars, but they did "get the chance to come to America, train with a pitching coach and work out" for MLB scouts. Pirates GM Neal Huntington said of the signings, "There are a billion-plus people in India. It's like China, which is a hot market for teams because it has a billion people. This was an opportunity for us to sign two players whom we like, and also to put our foot in the door in what potentially is a tremendous market of future players" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 11/25). Huntington: "We're trying to be creative internationally" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 11/25).
|
Related Stories By Company
|
Related Stories By Sport
|
Nutting, Coonelly, Address State Of Pirates
October 12, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Pirates Holding Line On Ticket Prices
October 8, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Nutting Frustrated With Pirates' Season
October 5, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Selig: Pirates Not Putting Profit First
September 29, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Revenue Sharing Aids Struggling MLB Teams
August 18, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
Boras, Manfred Talk About Finances Escalate
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Selig: Concerns Around Economy Still Exist
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
MasterCard Present At WS DVD Premiere
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Hicks Hopes To Remain Rangers Majority Owner
November 19, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Selig Committed To Condensing Playoffs
November 19, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
|
