Career
Along with Rinku Singh, he was the first Indian national ever to sign a contract with a major American sports club Neither Patel nor Singh had ever thrown a baseball before beating over 37,000 competitors in The Million Dollar Arm, an Indian reality television show designed to find new baseball talent. At the age of 14, he started visiting Sampurnanand Stadium in Sigra where he met athletes and trained himself to play field hockey In 2004, he was selected for a regional sports hostel in Lucknow.
Patel, along with Singh, tried out in front of scouts from 20 Major League Baseball teams in November 2008.
Reports from Pittsburgh Pirates scouts Joe Ferrone and Sean Campbell led to general manager Neal Huntington signing both to contracts with the organization. With the deal, the pair became the first Indians to sign American major league baseball contracts.
The total signing bonus for the two was $8,000. After training, the two returned to visit their families in India before entering Pirates training camp in Bradenton, Florida.
Patel, along with Singh, played for the Pirates" Gulf Coast League team
Patel"s 2010 season was less successful, with an 8.59 European Research Area in 71⁄3 innings, over nine games. He was released in December 2010 and returned home to finish school. Patel began to teach baseball in Delhi and in 2011, he helped his village boys prepare for the second season of the Million Dollar Arm talent hunt for about two months.
He did not charge any money.
After his return, Patel was also "seriously" practicing the javelin. Patel participated at the national athletics championship in Kolkata in 2011 and the Federation Cup athletics championship in April 2012.
In 2012, Patel said, "My family"s economical and emotional conditions have improved. I could renovate home in the village and my sister"s wedding was arranged with the money that I sent home.
My family gathered self esteem and respect in society.
lieutenant is always good to see your near and dear ones happy.".
