Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano, John McLaren, Didi Gregorius, and Jair Jurrjens of the Dubai Wolves pose for a photo on Baseball United media day in Cincinnati, Ohio on Sept. 19, 2023. (Photo: Leif Skodnick/World Baseball Network)
By Leif Skodnick
World Baseball Network
Baseball United is holding it’s first-ever draft on Monday starting at 9 a.m., with players being selected by the league’s four announced franchises: the Abu Dhabi Wolves, Dubai Falcons, Karachi Monarchs, and Mumbai Cobras.
Among the players we expect to be selected, most have significant Major League Baseball experience. In attendance at Baseball United’s media day in Cincinnati last month were Didi Gregorius, Robinson Cano, Bartolo Colon, Andrelton Simmons, and Jair Jurrjens, as well as Karan Patel, an eighth-round pick of the Chicago White Sox in 2019 who rose to Double-A before pitching with the Billings Mustangs in the independent Pioneer League last season.
Baseball United recently announced that the Dubai Showcase was rescheduled for November 24-25, and the format was changed to a pair of All-Star games at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Previously, the Dubai Showcase was schedule for November 9-11, with all four franchises participating in a three-day, four-team event.
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9 a.m. – The livestream of the draft has just started at www.baseballunited.com – so far, some graphic. animations with guitar music. The show should be getting started any time now.
9:06 a.m. – The Mumbai Cobras are on the clock, with two minutes to make a selection.
9:08 a.m. – Mumbai selected Karan Patel with the first overall pick. Patel, mentioned above, rose to Double-A after being selected by the White Sox in the 2019 MLB Draft, and was the first Indian-American selected in the MLB Draft.
9:10 a.m. – Karachi selected Steven Moya with the second pick. Moya played parts of three seasons with the Detroit Tigers from 2014-16, and played in Japan from 2018-21. He’s since returned to North American and played for the Toros del Este in LIDOM and the Acereros de Monclova in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol.
9:14 a.m. – The Dubai Wolves select Didi Gregorius, best known as the shortstop who followed Derek Jeter with the New York Yankees. Gregorius started the 2023 season with the Philadelphia Phillies and also played in Mexico with the Algodoneros de Union Laguna and with the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.
9:16 a.m. – The Abu Dhabi Falcons select Pablo Sandoval, the former San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox third baseman nicknamed “Kung Fu Panda.” Sandoval last appeared in the Majors with Atlanta in 2021, but continues to play internationally, having played with the Navegantes de Magallanes in Venezuela, Tabasco and Monclova in the LMB, and Santurce in Puerto Rico over the past three years.
9:18 a.m. – The Abu Dhabi Falcons select Alex Liddi, who appeared in 61 MLB games with Seattle from 2010-13. A third baseman, Liddi has played for teams in the LMB, the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico, and the Chinese Professional Baseball League over the past decade.
9:20 a.m. – The Dubai Wolves select Robinson Cano, who’s going to play in LIDOM for the Estrellas Orientales in his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, this winter. The former New York Yankee, New York Met, and Seattle Mariner gives Baseball United a bit of star power.
9:22 a.m. – The Karachi Kings select Phil Ervin, an outfielder who appeared in 237 MLB games from 2017-20 with Atlanta and Seattle.
9:24 a.m. – The Mumbai Cobras select speedy infielder Andrelton Simmons, who played 11 seasons in the Major Leagues with Atlanta, the Los Angeles Angels, the Minnesota Twins, and the Chicago Cubs.
Second Round
9. Karachi – David Huff, LHP
10. Dubai – Jair Jurrjens, RHP
11. Abu Dhabi – Dillon Thomas, OF
12. Mumbai – Robbie Ross, LHP
13. Mumbai – Justin Williams, OF
14. Abu Dhabi – Andre Rienzo, RHP
15. Dubai – Courtney Hawkins, OF
16. Karachi – Bartolo Colon, RHP
Third Round
17. Dubai – Dwight Smith Jr., OF
18. Abu Dhabi – Gabriel Guerrero, OF
19. Mumbai – Shed Long, 2B
20. Karachi – Jefry Marte, 1B/3B
21. Karachi – Denis Phipps, OF
22. Mumbai – Jacob Robson, OF
23. Abu Dhabi – Alejandro de Aza, OF
24. Dubai – Wilin Rosario, C
Fourth Round
25. Abu Dhabi – Konsta Kurrika, RHP
26. Mumbai – Akeem Bostick, RHP
27. Karachi – AJ Schugel, RHP
28. Dubai – Dovydas Neverauskas, RHP