Former MLB Stars Introduce Baseball to Cricket-Loving Kids in Mumbai

Former Major League Baseball (MLB) stars visited Hansraj Morarji School in Mumbai to introduce young students to baseball through hands-on training sessions. Former New York Yankees player Nick Swisher led home-run drills, while ex-Los Angeles Dodgers star Adrian Gonzalez and American softball players guided batting, pitching and fielding practice. The students impressed the visitors with their batting power and athletic abilities, demonstrating how skills developed through cricket can transfer to baseball.

The former players were particularly impressed by the children’s talent, with several noting that the girls often outperformed the boys during the sessions. Gonzalez, who hit 317 home runs during his 15-year MLB career, said Indian youngsters showed advanced skills despite baseball’s limited presence in the country. The event also highlighted growing opportunities for girls in sports, with softball star Rachel Garcia expressing optimism about the future of women athletes.

MLB representatives said the initiative aims to promote baseball in India without competing with cricket, the country’s most popular sport. They believe children can benefit from playing both games and developing complementary skills. The former MLB stars were also scheduled to join Indian cricketers Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur and Radha Yadav for a three-on-three baseball event as part of MLBx in Mumbai.

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