MLB - Sports Rumors

Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:07 pm EST

Pirates sign two pitchers from India

By Joe Zedalis

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced late on Monday that they have signed pitchers Rinku Singh and Dinesh Kumar Patel as non-drafted free agents. The two Indian pitchers were discovered while participating in the Million Dollar Arm competition in India last year to find the strongest and most accurate arm in the country.

Singh and Patel emerged as the winners and were then invited to train with University of Southern California pitching coach Tom House in the US. After months of training, the two pitchers — who had never played baseball before entering the contest — threw in front of numerous Major League scouts earlier this month.

Both have been reported to reach a velocity in the low 90s and have impressive accuracy considering their lack of structured training until this year.

Singh and Patel are the first Indian-born players to sign a professional sports contract outside of their home country.

Source: MLB.comNew Window

digg delicious
more

63 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. Dr. Jones
    1. Posted by Dr. Jones Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:48 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Watch out cubbies!!! here come the pirates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  2. K P
    2. Posted by K P Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:48 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Indian are taking over.. Not long before a 7 footer comes to NBA and Rocket arm qb in NFL.
  3. SB 13
    3. Posted by SB 13 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:06 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    congrats to singh and patel! 2 out of 1 billion is a start for india...
  4. jeffutlaw
    4. Posted by jeffutlaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I don't even know what to say about this.
    Only the Pirates, I suppose.
  5. ME
    5. Posted by ME Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:51 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    haaha.....the Detroit Lions are gonna sign the winner of the punt pass and kick competition winner from the dominican republic next...
    I hope they make it...go dudes!
    MMM Indian food.
  6. Joshua C
    6. Posted by Joshua C Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    At least the Bucco organization is thinking outside the box... 'bout time for some innovation in the burgh!
  7. viperneo
    7. Posted by viperneo Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:48 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    only 19yrs old !!!
  8. Rabbit Man
    8. Posted by Rabbit Man Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Hey there has to be a first, Ichiro was one of the first Japanese Position players and a lot of people laughed at that signing.
    These guys probably won't make it, but as r8r w@rrioR sB pointed out there are a billion odd people in India, this may just inspire others to try Baseball as opposed to Cricket to get themselves out of that country and into the Sporting arena.
    Good luck to them, look out Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and all other Cricket playing nations on the sub continant.
  9. HHH
    9. Posted by HHH Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:25 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I guess we are outsourcing MLB now :) LOL (joking,ok)
    Pirates arent going anywhere for a long time...(not joking)
  10. scott
    10. Posted by scott Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    There is this guy on a Pacific island that has been clocked at 102 mph throwing a coconut.
    Joshua, agreed, way outside the box. It could vary the post game meal.
  11. leoleebookworm
    11. Posted by leoleebookworm Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:49 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    not sure if they will make pirates better team.....
  12. Patrick O
    12. Posted by Patrick O Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:14 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    #5 you know that isn't true. we would only be interested in a wide rcvr from the dominican republic, but thanks for the idea. Rod marinelli
  13. davfied
    13. Posted by davfied Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Scott
    Seriously?
  14. Mr C.
    14. Posted by Mr C. Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I guess Cleveland doesn't have the monopoly on the Indians anymore, huh?
  15. angloamer
    15. Posted by angloamer Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:54 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    desperation is an bad thing
  16. davfied33
    16. Posted by davfied33 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Scott - please, please, please be careful what you post. Davfied believes EVERYTHING he reads. With davfied, you are dealing with a guy playing with only 51 cards in his deck.
  17. Mr Mo
    17. Posted by Mr Mo Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:28 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Patel? Really? i wonder if he's related to my friend Mitul? hahhahahahahahaha
    but this is a pretty cool story i guess. The pirates have to find new talent somewhere i guess
  18. Blaster
    18. Posted by Blaster Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:29 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    This is incredibly surprising. The first two individuals from India to sign a professional sports contract outside of India. We got issues.
  19. Wes L H
    19. Posted by Wes L H Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:38 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    What about lightning-fast single A talent Ransom Choogle?
  20. Wayne
    20. Posted by Wayne Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:45 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I also do not know exactly what to say... They have never played baseball before. Maybe the Pirates are opening a Dunkin Donut franchise.
  21. Red Sox Nation
    21. Posted by Red Sox Nation Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:50 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Go Red Sox
  22. Red Sox Nation
    22. Posted by Red Sox Nation Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:50 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Go Red Sox
  23. davfied
    23. Posted by davfied Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Hey whataburger fukker whatever,
    You don't know me faker. Scott understands the code we have. If you don't like the fact that since we both live in the state of California and we have a secret code here to communicate with each other then you will have to move here. Yhe only thing is your IQ is not high enough to qualify you. Therefore mind your FUKKING business.
  24. nikky1_2_3
    24. Posted by nikky1_2_3 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:38 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    go f*** soxs

Sports Rumors

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Teams

Customize to follow news and rumors on your favorite teams. [ Sign in ]