Talent for the game: Indians to pitch for US baseball team

STRONG ARM: Rinku (R) and Dinesh (C) pitch as US Ambassador David C Mulford watches on.

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New Delhi: Two Indian youngsters chasing the American baseball dream have taken an important first step when the Pittsburgh Pirates signed them up as non-draft free agents.

Left-hander Rinku Singh and Dinesh Kumar Patel pitched in front of scouts from the Pirates and other Major League organisations on November 12 before being chosen, a statement on the club website (www.pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com) said.

The players, with shoulder strength gained through their initial training to become javelin throwers, earned a US training stint in May after topping a pitching contest in India, "The Million-Dollar Arm", which offered the winner $100,000.

Singh, 20, who won that contest and Patel, 19, will now take part in the Pirates' Minor League spring training next year. Their promoters hope they can make it as professionals, saying such success would boost baseball in cricket-mad India in the same way that Yao Ming's move to the NBA created a fan base for basketball in China.

"The Pirates are committed to creatively adding talent to our organisation," Pirates senior-vice president, general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement on Monday.

"By adding these two young men, we 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. These young men have improved a tremendous amount in their six-month exposure to baseball and we look forward to helping them continue to fulfil their potential."

The winners of the "Million Dollar Arm" contest were decided on the basis of their ability to pitch at 135 km an hour or faster for strikes.

The duo from Uttar Pradesh trained with University of Southern California pitching coach Tom House, who felt they held some promise. "I know they can pitch, but we have to teach them how to play the game," said Huntington. "It is well worth the risk.