DUBAI, UAE (May 27, 2024) - Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent, announced today that two-time MLB All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner, Starling Marte, has joined its investment and ownership group. Marte, the starting right fielder for the New York Mets, becomes the fifth active MLB player to invest in Baseball United, joining fellow All-Stars Elvis Andrus, Matt Barnes, Luis Severino, and Ronald Acuña Jr.

Marte played the first eight years of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, winning two consecutive Gold Glove awards in 2015 and 2016, as well as receiving his first All-Star selection in 2016. He’s spent the last three seasons with the Mets, earning an All-Star selection in 2022. He’s also played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Miami Marlins, and Oakland Athletics.

Marte is the active MLB-leader in career stolen bases with 346. He led the league with 47 steals in 2021), marking the 3rd time in his career that he stole over 40 bases. Marte has a career batting average of .287, with 153 home runs, and 612 RBIs. Marte is from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

“We are truly honored to welcome Starling into the Baseball United family,” said Kash Shaikh, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Baseball United. “Starling is not only an outstanding athlete, he’s been a model of consistency on and off the field throughout his 13-year big league career. He believes in the global potential of baseball and plays with the type of approach and passion that will help inspire even more young people to fall in love with the game. Starling is a great addition to the team, and we look forward to seeing him on the field the rest of this season in New York.”

Marte joins 19 other MLB legends within Baseball United’s ownership group, including Hall of Famers Barry Larkin, Mariano Rivera, and Adrián Beltré, and icons like Albert Pujols, Robinson Cano, and Bartolo Colón. The league began play in Dubai last November with an inaugural All-Star Showcase event, the first-ever professional baseball games in the history of the region. The event was broadcast in 127 different countries, reaching 200 million households.

Marte is the seventh Dominican-born MLB star to invest in Baseball United, joining Cano, Pujols, Beltre, Colón, Severino and Hanley Ramirez.

“I am so grateful to join Kash, John (Miedreich), and the rest of the Co-Owners at Baseball United to continue growing this beautiful game,” said Marte. I can’t wait to help elevate the game of baseball across the world, particularly in the Middle East, India, and Pakistan, where Baseball United has already built a strong foundation. I look forward to seeing how this region can shine in the world of baseball.”

The league is scheduled to announce its 2024 plans and expansion franchises this summer. Baseball United’s first full season is slated for the winter of 2025.

To learn more about Baseball United, visit baseballunited.com.

About Baseball United
Baseball United is the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. Baseball United’s inaugural Showcase event in Dubai was broadcast in 127 countries, reaching 200 million households. Our mission is to inspire one billion new fans to fall in love with baseball. Our ownership group includes award-winning entrepreneur, Kash Shaikh, and several inspiring baseball legends, including Barry Larkin, Mariano Rivera, Adrián Beltré, Felix Hernandez, Robinson Cano, Ryan Howard, and Ronald Acuña Jr. In addition to our professional league, the Baseball United ecosystem spans youth development, federation partnerships, media and content production, merchandise, and non-profit outreach. With over 30 nationalities represented on our team rosters and a new suite of innovative game changes, Baseball United is working to create a new future for baseball in one of the fastest growing and most culturally diverse regions in the world.

Media Contacts:
Garyn Prater, Manager, Communications, Baseball United
garyn@baseballunited.com
513.582.9906