The Search Begins…

The Million Dollar Arm contest, beginning in November 2008 and continuing with season 2 in 2009, looks to find new pitching prospects throughout India. It is baseball scouting meets “India Idol” with an open call to all potential pitchers in India between the ages 16 of 21. Up for grabs is the chance to win a million dollar cash prize and a trip to the United States for baseball training at the Rod Dedeaux Research & Baseball Institute (RDRBI) in Los Angeles.

Contestants will be highly visible, as the contest will be filmed for a television series airing in India. The contest will identify and scout new pitchers with the hopes of finding the first star baseball pitcher in India to make it to the Pros in the United States. 

Through a series of elimination rounds in the cities of Delhi, Chennai, Kolkatta, and Mumbai, everyone will have a chance to see if they have The Million Dollar Arm!

The contestant winner will get:

• A guaranteed $100,000.00 (US Dollars) with a chance to try for $1,000,000.00 (US Dollars).
• A trip to the US to spend 6-12 months training for your chance to try out for an American professional baseball team in 2009.

Season one winner, Rinku Singh, and runner up, Dinesh Patel arrived in Los Angeles in May of 2008 and had their very first experience of baseball at a USC college baseball game. Six months later, under the watchful eyes of pitching coaches, Tom House and Pat Ahearne, along with baseball strength coach, Jackson Crowther, both were able to realize the next step in their dreams of Major League Baseball. 

Rinku and Dinesh were signed to a professional contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and will report to Spring Training with their new team in February to begin the pursuit of their Major League Dream.

The Way of Sports congratulates Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel on their new opportunity with the Pirates and commends them on their hard work. They are the first players born in India to sign a professional baseball contract in the United States.

More about Rinku and Dinesh, including interviews and videos can be found here on the Way of Sports. Stay tuned for season 2 of the Million Dollar Arm contest and the newest baseball prospects from India and read Rinku and Dinesh’s blog at www.themilliondollararm.com/blog