Pirates release pitcher Dinesh Patel

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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday released right-hander Dinesh Patel, one of two pitchers from India who signed in 2008 despite never having played baseball.

Left-hander Rinku Singh, who advanced from rookie ball to short-season Class A last summer, remains in their organization.

Singh won an India TV reality show called the "Million Dollar Arm," in which scouts sought to discover prospective pitchers with strong throwing arms. Patel was the runner-up.

Patel had an 8.59 ERA in 7 1/3 innings last season in rookie ball.

Pittsburgh also released two Taiwan prospects signed out of high school in 2009, right-hander Sheng-Cin Hong (14.18 ERA in 11 games at rookie level Bradenton) and first baseman Chih-Wei Hsu (.154 batting average in 16 games).

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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