Weeks of speculation finally ended today as Baseball United announced its inaugural player draft, which features an extraordinary mixture of MLB veterans, players from other top national leagues, and former top prospects, plus multiple players developed in Europe. Robinsón Canó, Bartolo Colón, Pablo Sandoval, Andrelton Simmons, and Didi Gregorius are among the top names set to suit up in the United Arab Emirates in November. A significant proportion of the names called by the Abu Dhabi Falcons, Dubai Wolves, Karachi Monarchs, and Mumbai Cobras are national team stars, including 14 players that have appeared for European countries, plus three from Africa, and one from Oceania.
Players who learned their baseball in Europe are Gregorius, Dovydas Neverauskas, Alex Liddi, Alberto Mineo, Federico Celli, Vincent Ahrens, Leo Bäckström, and Konsta Kurikka, plus European national teamers Simmons, Jair Jurrjens, Juremi Profar, Alex Katz, Akeel Morris, and Raul Shah.
South Africa is represented by Dylan Unsworth and Chris Beyers, Australia by Todd van Steensel, while other international noteables include Brazil’s Tiago da Silva (who has more recently pitched for Italy) and Andre Rienzo. The most unusual name was certainly Ernesta Ohandza, a native of Cameroon, with only Finland’s Kurikka similarly lacking in professional playing experience.
The Mumbai Cobras had the first overall pick and called the name of Karan Patel, who made history in 2017 as the first player of Indian heritage taken in the MLB Draft. The subsequent 13 draftees all had significant major league experience. After a total of 10 rounds, in which each team made two picks, the full Baseball United rosters were revealed. No players were taken from active MLB or NPB organisations.
Below is a full list of draftees and each team’s roster.
Round 1
- Karan Patel – Mumbai
- Steven Moya – Karachi
- Didi Gregorius – Dubai
- Pablo Sandoval – Abu Dhabi
- Alex Liddi – Abu Dhabi
- Robinsón Canó – Dubai
- Phil Ervin – Karachi
- Andrelton Simmons – Mumbai
Round 2
- David Huff – Karachi
- Jair Jurrjens – Dubai
- Dillon Thomas – Abu Dhabi
- Robbie Ross – Mumbai
- Justin Williams – Mumbai
- Andre Rienzo – Abu Dhabi
- Courtney Hawkins – Dubai
- Bartolo Colón – Karachi
Round 3
- Dwight Smith, Jr. – Dubai
- Gabriel Guerrero – Abu Dhabi
- Shed Long – Mumbai
- Jefry Marte – Karachi
- Denis Phipps – Karachi
- Jacob Robson – Mumbai
- Alejandro de Aza – Abu Dhabi
- Wilin Rosario – Dubai
Round 4
- Konsta Kurrika – Abu Dhabi
- Akeem Bostick – Mumbai
- A.J. Schugel – Karachi
- Dovydas Neverauskas – Dubai
- Reggie McClain – Dubai
- Hector Sánchez – Karachi
- Akeel Morris – Mumbai
- J.D. Hammer – Abu Dhabi
Round 5
- Tiago da Silva – Mumbai
- Shingo Hirata – Karachi
- Connor Panas – Dubai
- Severino González – Abu Dhabi
- Rusney Castillo – Abu Dhabi
- Brian Schlitter – Dubai
- Drew Ward – Karachi
- Brandon Laird – Mumbai
Round 6
- Dylan Unsworth – Karachi
- Hernan Pérez – Dubai
- Mitch Lively – Abu Dhabi
- Brantley Bell – Mumbai
- Cito Culver – Mumbai
- Jhoan Urena – Abu Dhabi
- Alex Katz – Dubai
- Juremi Profar – Karachi
Round 7
- Rudy Martin – Dubai
- Sam Abbott – Abu Dhabi
- Zac Rosscup – Mumbai
- Carlos Martínez – Karachi
- Quincy Latimore – Karachi
- Enrique Burgos – Mumbai
- Alberto Mineo – Abu Dhabi
- L.P. Pelletier – Dubai
Round 8
- Mitch Piatnik – Abu Dhabi
- Dalton Combs – Mumbai
- Jason Dicochea – Karachi
- Christiaan Beyers – Dubai
- Todd van Steensel – Dubai
- Pavin Parks – Karachi
- Carlos Garzon – Mumbai
- Leo Bäckström – Abu Dhabi
Round 9
65. Raul Shah – Mumbai
66. Franklin van Gurp – Karachi
67. Cameron Gann – Dubai
68. Shungo Fukunaga – Abu Dhabi
69. Luke Westphal – Abu Dhabi
70. Aldrich de Jongh – Dubai
71. Jalen García – Karachi
72. Justin Wylie – Mumbai
Round 10
- Alex Dubord – Karachi
- Vincent Ahrens – Dubai
- Matt Soren – Abu Dhabi
- Austin Bernard – Mumbai
- Nico Tellache – Mumbai
- Federico Celli – Abu Dhabi
- Ernest Ohandza – Dubai
- Tucker Smith – Karachi
Abu Dhabi Falcons
Honourary GM: Nick Swisher
Manager: Dennis Cook
4. Pablo Sandoval
5. Alex Liddi
11. Dillon Thomas
14. Andre Rienzo
18. Gabriel Guerrero
23. Alejandro de Aza
25. Konsta Kurrika
32. J.D. Hammer
36. Severino González
37. Rusney Castillo
43. Mitch Lively
46. Jhoan Urena
50. Sam Abbott
55. Alberto Mineo
57. Mitch Piatnik
64. Leo Bäckström
68. Shungo Fukunaga
69. Luke Westphal
75. Matt Soren
78. Federico Celli
Dubai Wolves
Honourary GM: Felix Hernandez
Manager: John McLaren
3. Didi Gregorius
6. Robinsón Canó
10. Jair Jurrjens
15. Courtney Hawkins
17. Dwight Smith Jr.
24. Wilin Rosario
28. Dovydas Neverauskas
29. Reggie McClain
35. Connor Panas
38. Brian Schlitter
42. Hernan Pérez
47. Alex Katz
49. Rudy Martin
56. L.P. Pelletier
60. Christiaan Beyers
61. Todd van Steensel
67. Cameron Gann
70. Aldrich de Jongh
74. Vincent Ahrens
79. Ernest Ohandza
Karachi Monarchs
Honourary GM: Adrian Beltre
Manager: Miguel Tejada
2. Steven Moya
7. Phil Ervin
9. David Huff
16. Bartolo Colón
20. Jefry Marté
21. Denis Phipps
27. A.J. Schugel
30. Hector Sánchez
34. Shingo Hirata
39. Drew Ward
41. Dylan Unsworth
48. Juremi Profar
52. Carlos Martínez
53. Quincy Latimore
59. Jason Dicochea
62. Pavin Parks
66: Franklin van Gurp
71. Jalen García
73. Alex Dubord
80. Tucker Smith
Mumbai Cobras
Honourary GM: Barry Larkin
Manager: Chris Sabo
1. Karan Patel
8. Andrelton Simmons
12. Robbie Ross
13. Justin Williams
19. Shed Long
22. Jacob Robson
26. Akeem Bostick
31. Akeel Morris
33. Tiago da Silva
40. Brandon Laird
44. Brantley Bell
45. Cito Culver
51. Zac Rosscup
54. Enrique Burgos
58. Dalton Combs
63. Carlos Garzon
65. Raul Shah
72. Justin Wylie
76. Austin Bernard
77. Nico Tellache
Update was made to switch two sets of players on Abu Dhabi with Dubai.
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