Baseball United Prospect Program
The 6th Annual Awards
- Diversity
- Equity
- Inclusion & Belonging
ABOUT THIS ENTRY
Baseball United is the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and South Asia. The ownership group includes CEO and award-winning entrepreneur, Kash Shaikh, and more than 15 Major League Baseball (MLB) legends, including Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera, Barry Larkin, and Adrian Beltre. The organization hosted the first-ever professional baseball games in the history of the region in November of 2023, bringing together 50 of the world’s best players - as well as eight prospects from the region - to play on a completely custom-built field in Dubai. The games were broadcast in 127 countries spread across six continents, reaching 200 Million homes. For the eight prospects chosen to compete, this was their first opportunity to play alongside MLB-level talent in a professional tournament.
How does this represent “Excellence in Engagement”?
The inclusion of these eight prospects in the All-Star Showcase was the first step towards Baseball United's larger vision of providing local talent with the opportunity play baseball at the professional level. While the region has hosted little leagues and national teams for many years, there has never been a professional league for talented, motivated players to aspire to. By ensuring that prospects have the opportunity to play in professional events and learn from the best-known legends of the game, Baseball United will continue to unlock legions of new fans within the region.
Objective
As the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, a key objective for our inaugural event - the Baseball United All-Star Showcase - was to enable local talent from the region to participate in the games alongside our former MLB legends. Not only would this provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportuntiy for players within the region, it would also help to build new fan engagement in key markets such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Palestine.
Strategy & Execution
Baseball United hosted the first-ever professional baseball games in the history of the region in November 2023, bringing together 50 of the world’s best players to play on a completely custom-built field in Dubai. The All-Star Showcase was broadcast in 127 countries spread across six continents, reaching 200 Million homes. Baseball United invited eight prospect players from the region to participate in the games. Players were selected from baseball national team programs in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Palestine and were added to the rosters for the two competing teams - the East All-Stars and the West All-Stars. The West All-Stars included Saurabh Gaikwad (21 years old), right-handed pitcher out of Satara, India; Akshay More (19), right-handed pitcher out of Pune, India; and Akshay Mogal (22), infielder out of Nashik, India as well as Palestinian national baseball team captain, Yunis Halim (26). The East All-Stars included Syed Muhammad Shah (20), infielder from Lahore, Pakistan; Wahid (19), infielder out of Khyber, Pakistan; and Hashan Senewirathna (20), infielder out of Colombo, Sri Lanks as well as Ugandan catcher and outfielder, Dennis Kasumba (20). Each prospect had the opportunity to play alongside former MLB legends like Bartolo Colon, Robinson Cano, and Pablo Sandoval.
Organizations
- Baseball United
Links
Credits
Kash Shaikh
Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO
Baseball United
John Miedreich
Co-Founder, Vice Chairman, EVP Baseball Operations
Baseball United
Herbie Pallotta
SVP, Marketing
Baseball United
Joshua Varughese
Senior Director
Baseball United
Celebrate in NYC
Join us for the 6th Annual Hashtag Sports Awards™ on the evening of June 6, 2024 as we celebrate finalists and reveal the winners of this year's awards live during the show.
