Major League Baseball (MLB) has collaborated with former India opener Shikhar Dhawan to promote the sport in India. This initiative, in collaboration with Disney Star, is aimed at discovering India’s next big baseball hitter, furthering MLB’s mission to expand its reach and talent pool in the country.
Dhawan joins MLB veteran Adam Jones and celebrated Star Sports presenter Jatin Sapru in the quest to find India’s next baseball superstar. HotShots will see players from across the country compete in various trials, with the top 10 athletes vying for the title under the expert guidance of Dhawan and Jones.
Adam Jones has had a notable MLB career with several impressive records and accomplishments. Here are some highlights:
Home Runs: He hit over 260 career home runs during his time in the league.
RBIs: Jones accumulated more than 800 RBIs.
All-Star Appearances: He was selected to the MLB All-Star Game three times (2008, 2009, 2012).
Gold Glove Awards: Jones won four Gold Glove Awards for his exceptional defensive play in center field (2009–2012).
Silver Slugger Award: He received the Silver Slugger Award in 2012, recognizing him as one of the top offensive outfielders in the league.
Earlier, India's Dinesh Patel featured in MLB. He switched his passion from a Javelin thrower to a baseball player. Interestingly, Rinku Singh was the first Indian to play baseball and now he is a professional wrestler.
On the other hand, Shikhar Dhawan has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The former India opener is currently featuring in Legends League Cricket where he is leading Gujarat Greats.
Dhawan was India's one of the consistent batter during his career from 2013 to 2022, he played 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is for India.
Dhawan became India’s 25th ODI captain during a match against Sri Lanka in June 2021, stepping in for Rohit Sharma. He led the team in 12 matches, achieving seven wins and three losses.