Bartolo Colon, Robinson Canó among ex-MLB players drafted in new Dubai-based league

In an unexpected turn of events, a Dubai-based baseball league recently held its inaugural draft, and several former MLB players, including Robinson Canó, Bartolo Colon, and Didi Gregorius, were among the selected participants.

The Baseball United league, backed by renowned figures such as Mariano Rivera, Barry Larkin, Adrián Beltré, and Félix Hernández on its executive team, along with notable owners like Elvis Andrus and Ryan Howard, is set to commence play next fall.

Other former MLB players, including Pablo Sandoval, Andrelton Simmons, Jair Jurrjens, and Rusney Castillo, were also chosen from a diverse pool of over 200 players representing more than 30 countries.

A total of 64 players were drafted to join the league’s four teams: the Mumbai Cobras, Karachi Monarchs, Dubai Wolves, and Abu Dhabi Falcons. Didi Gregorius and Robinson Canó were selected third and sixth overall by the Dubai Wolves, respectively, while Bartolo Colon became the 16th overall pick for the Karachi Monarchs.

Karan Patel, a pitcher of Indian descent who made history as the first Indian player to be drafted by an MLB team, achieved another milestone by being selected as the first overall pick for the Mumbai Cobras.

The presence of former major leaguers in the league is not limited to players; Chris Sabo and Miguel Tejada serve as managers for the Cobras and Monarchs, respectively, while Nick Swisher holds the honorary position of general manager for the Abu Dhabi Falcons.

Before the official launch of the league, an All-Star showcase will take place at Dubai International Stadium in November. However, it appears that the embedded content for this event is not available in all regions.

Bartolo Colon, aged 50, retired from MLB in 2018 after a successful career spanning 21 years with 11 different teams. Canó, who turned 41, played nearly 2,300 games with five teams before his retirement last season. Didi Gregorius, at the age of 33, signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners but decided to opt out after 25 games at the Triple-A level.

Kash Shaikh, the president and CEO of Baseball United, revealed plans for the future expansion of the league, with four additional teams set to be unveiled in 2024. The league also aims to cater to the cricket-loving region by implementing unique rules that differentiate it from traditional MLB formats.