Behind Top Prospect Arjun Nimmala, Mlb Eyes India As Next Hotbed For Talent And Fans

Baseball is known arsenic America’s pastime, but it has agelong been a world game. From nan Dominican Republic to Japan to Venezuela, nan athletics reigns ultimate for fans, and countless players are connected Major League Baseball rosters.

The adjacent state that could soon beryllium connected that list? India.

While its residents whitethorn for illustration a different crippled pinch a shot and a bat — cricket — it’s besides nan motherland of Arjun Nimmala, nan apical imaginable successful nan Toronto Blue Jays organization. Picked 20th wide successful nan 2023 draft, Nimmala is nan first first-generation Indian American to beryllium selected successful nan first round.

Nimmala, who grew up extracurricular Tampa Bay, Florida, said his begetter introduced him to cricket astatine a young property but besides taught him baseball. He fell successful emotion pinch nan athletics and played competitively each nan measurement done precocious schoolhouse until nan Blue Jays selected him astatine conscionable 17 years old.

Two years later, he is classed No. 46 retired of 900 prospects by MLB and considered a early centerpiece of nan organization.

While Nimmala, presently pinch nan Blue Jays’ high-A connection Vancouver Canadians, continues to ascend nan insignificant leagues, MLB is doing extended outreach successful India by putting together tournaments for children and taking shot programs to schools.

“We want to effort to present nan athletics to arsenic galore kids arsenic possible,” Chris Marinak, MLB’s main operations and strategy officer, told NBC News. “That’s nan ft successful nan door. That’s nan measurement that you amended kids connected nan crippled — you get kids to autumn successful emotion pinch it, and they go fans for nan remainder of their lives.”

He said nan extremity is to return shot to India some connected nan fields and wrong homes.

“We’re focusing connected getting our MLB games connected broadcast and streaming,” Marinak said. “We person 2 partners successful India correct now that are putting games unrecorded for nan postseason and nan regular season, and we’re seeing awesome liking from fans astir consumption.”

MLB opened an agency successful India successful 2019 and since 2021 has hosted nan MLB Cup, a tourney for amateur younker teams crossed nan country.

Nimmala traveled to India successful 2023 to spot nan initiatives nan convention was producing and to thief turn nan crippled successful nan state wherever overmuch of his family still lives.

“To beryllium capable to spell location and not only spot that shot is simply a portion of India, arsenic well, but conscionable besides trying to make it bigger, I deliberation that makes maine ace proud,” Nimmala said. “Knowing that I person a anticipation of doing that and conscionable seeing really overmuch shot is played successful India already, I thought was very cool.”

Asked really large shot tin beryllium successful India, a state pinch 1.46 cardinal people, Marinak said MLB has precocious goals.

“When you person a cardinal fans that are watching cricket, it creates a existent opportunity to turn nan sport,” he said. “If we tin get shot to nan standard of cricket, it would beryllium a immense penetration into that market. It would look a batch for illustration what you spot successful Japan [and the] United States. It tin beryllium done.”

Arjun Nimmala of nan Toronto Blue Jays reaches 2nd guidelines connected a throwing correction against nan Minnesota Twins successful a outpouring training crippled successful Dunedin, Fla., connected March 15.Mike Carlson / MLB Photos via Getty Images file

Nimmala says nan extremity remains to make nan awesome leagues, though that could return aggregate years because of his property and experience. His 17 location runs past twelvemonth led each players ages 18 aliases younger, and aft immoderate early-season struggles, he turned up his accumulation successful nan 2nd half.

From June 27 on, Nimmala deed .265/.331/.564 pinch 13 homers complete his last 53 games.

Known arsenic a coagulated fielder, he has elite limb strength, according to MLB.com.

But nan stats show only 1 portion of his story. By conscionable being connected nan field, Nimmala is inspiring a full caller procreation of Indian players.

“I do get a batch of messages, particularly connected Instagram, from younger kids that are Indian that commencement to play baseball,” he said. “They’re like, ‘Dude, I really look up to you.’ I deliberation it’s ace cool to spot that.”

But moreover pinch each nan responsibilities of being a trailblazer, he’s keeping his eyes connected nan prize.

“I person 100% assurance that I will play pinch nan Toronto Blue Jays 1 time and make an impact.”