Comment to Fred Peemoeller's "Is India the next untapped resource for Major League Baseball?"

I would have to back Will up and say that it is entirely possible for Indians to become the next source of Major League Baseball players. I am an avid sports fan and remember when ESPN (Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) and Sports Illustrated both reported on this story. Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel are listed as pitchers on the current roster on the minor league affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Gulf Coast League Pirates. The statistics show that both players have played sparingly and with mixed levels of success. It normally takes a few years of development in the minor leagues for a player to be ready for “The Show.” These players are still works-in-progress, so only time will tell if this gamble pays off.

However, India is a country that boasts roughly one sixth of the world’s population, so one can make the argument that with enough money, time, and resources, India could become a hotbed for MLB stars. Many Major League teams invest in training academies and independent leagues in the major baseball nations, so that they can spot talented players early, and then grow them into potential stars. A similar program in India would be the necessary first step if baseball teams were to seriously consider acquiring Indian talent.

The World Baseball Classic tournament is an annual competition that brings together teams from around the world to compete to see which country reigns supreme. The usual suspects like the United States, Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Japan are included in the field. While countries such as the Netherlands, Italy, South Africa, Australia, and China are also fielding teams for this international event. This is a testament to the growth of baseball internationally and the ability for a sport that isn’t culturally relevant, to become accepted within a nation’s sports landscape. With this example, it doesn’t seem too far fetched for India, a country with a sport very similar to baseball, to make the transition to next adopting baseball.

-Jason Silver