If Disney ever needs a story idea for a sequel to the 2014 film Million Dollar Arm, there might be one in the making.
Former West Indies batsman Kieran Powell is trying to transition from cricket to baseball. Powell last played for West Indies in 2014 and is showcasing his skills at a tryout day in hopes of being signed by an MLB franchise, as reported by Fox Sports.
“An opportunity came about after a few discrepancies with the West Indies cricket board I decided to take some time off from cricket and some footage of me playing cricket was seen by the LA Dodgers,” Powell told Fairfax Media.
“I’ve had some training out here in the US for a few months.”
World renown Cricket Star Kieran Powell showing that hitting comes natural to him! #IMG #IMGBaseball #Hollachaboy pic.twitter.com/d9AsZAu0Km
— John-Ford Griffin (@Hollachaboy_) December 10, 2015
While the 25-year-old says he will always love cricket, he’s fallen in love with baseball and says he wants to play for the rest of his career.
“Baseball is my priority right now,” Powell told Fairfax Media. “It’s an interesting game, I’ve loved every minute of it so far, and I hope to continue doing it for the rest of my career.”
Powell isn’t the only Cricketer who considered an MLB transition, as Brett Lee told Fox Sports he was invited to a trial with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2003.
“It was a pretty incredible experience,” Lee told foxsports.com.au. “To be recognised as a guy that can throw a ball at a decent pace, to me that was first and foremost a big honour for me. The chance to go down and throw a couple of balls was fun.”
Losing Powell to baseball may sting for cricket fans, but if he can even half-competently transition to baseball and one day play in the major leagues, it will make one heck of a story.
