Baseball is called America’s pastime, nevertheless it has lengthy been a world sport. From the Dominican Republic to Japan to Venezuela, the game reigns supreme for followers, and numerous gamers are on Main League Baseball rosters.
The subsequent nation that might quickly be on that listing? India.
Whereas its residents might want a unique sport with a ball and a bat — cricket — it’s additionally the motherland of Arjun Nimmala, the highest prospect within the Toronto Blue Jays group. Picked twentieth total within the 2023 draft, Nimmala is the primary first-generation Indian American to be chosen within the first spherical.
Nimmala, who grew up outdoors Tampa Bay, Florida, stated his father launched him to cricket at a younger age but in addition taught him baseball. He fell in love with the game and performed competitively during highschool till the Blue Jays chosen him at simply 17 years outdated.
Two years later, he’s ranked No. 46 out of 900 prospects by MLB and thought of a future centerpiece of the group.
Whereas Nimmala, presently with the Blue Jays’ high-A affiliate Vancouver Canadians, continues to ascend the minor leagues, MLB is doing in depth outreach in India by placing collectively tournaments for youngsters and taking baseball packages to varsities.
“We need to attempt to introduce the game to as many youngsters as potential,” Chris Marinak, MLB’s chief operations and technique officer, instructed NBC Information. “That’s the foot within the door. That’s the way in which that you simply educate youngsters on the sport — you get youngsters to fall in love with it, and so they grow to be followers for the remainder of their lives.”
He stated the purpose is to take baseball to India each on the fields and inside properties.
“We’re specializing in getting our MLB video games on broadcast and streaming,” Marinak stated. “We now have two companions in India proper now which might be placing video games dwell for the postseason and the common season, and we’re seeing nice curiosity from followers round consumption.”
MLB opened an workplace in India in 2019 and since 2021 has hosted the MLB Cup, a match for newbie youth groups throughout the nation.
Nimmala traveled to India in 2023 to see the initiatives the league was producing and to assist develop the sport within the nation the place a lot of his household nonetheless lives.
“To have the ability to go there and never solely see that baseball is part of India, as nicely, however simply additionally attempting to make it greater, I believe that makes me tremendous proud,” Nimmala stated. “Figuring out that I’ve a risk of doing that and simply seeing how a lot baseball is performed in India already, I assumed was very cool.”
Requested how huge baseball may be in India, a rustic with 1.46 billion folks, Marinak stated MLB has excessive objectives.
“When you’ve got a billion followers which might be watching cricket, it creates an actual alternative to develop the game,” he stated. “If we will get baseball to the dimensions of cricket, it could be an enormous penetration into that market. It could look so much like what you see in Japan [and the] United States. It may be accomplished.”
Nimmala says the purpose stays to make the main leagues, although that might take a number of years due to his age and expertise. His 17 house runs final 12 months led all gamers ages 18 or youthful, and after some early-season struggles, he turned up his manufacturing within the second half.
From June 27 on, Nimmala hit .265/.331/.564 with 13 homers over his closing 53 video games.
Often known as a strong fielder, he has elite arm energy, in accordance with MLB.com.
However the stats inform just one a part of his story. By simply being on the sector, Nimmala is inspiring an entire new technology of Indian gamers.
“I do get loads of messages, particularly on Instagram, from youthful youngsters which might be Indian that begin to play baseball,” he stated. “They’re like, ‘Dude, I actually look as much as you.’ I believe it’s tremendous cool to see that.”
However even with all of the obligations of being a trailblazer, he’s protecting his eyes on the prize.
“I’ve 100% confidence that I’ll play with the Toronto Blue Jays someday and make an affect.”
