2 Former Angels Standouts Selected in Inaugural Baseball United League Draft

Some familiar faces.

MLB's postseason is currently underway as the World Series is upon us to close another campaign. 

That doesn't mean baseball is dormant around the world as a surprising new league emerged earlier this week that could bring more eyes to the game. 

The Baseball United League held its inaugural draft and several former Halos were picked to compete in this exciting new chapter of America's now worldwide pastime.

Bartolo Colon got picked 16th overall in the draft and the former Angels Cy Young winner will bring plenty of fans to his next destination. 

Colon earned a reputation as a finesse pitcher to end his career after his initial dominance with Cleveland and Montreal to start his career. 

The peak of Colon's career came in 2005 when he led the American League in wins as an Angel and captured the Cy Young award that season. 

PED suspensions didn't stop Colon from other shots in the majors as he continued to pitch well into his 40s, most notably for the Mets in their 2015 World Series campaign. 

Simmons spent his best days as an Atlanta Brave as the Dutch international became renowned for his glove. 

In some of the Braves' down seasons between their 2010 and 2018 postseason runs, Atlanta's shortstop boasted one of the best defensive reputations in the sport. 

Four Gold Glove awards only solidified this fact as the infielder eventually came over to Anaheim later in his career. 

Though his last stint in MLB wasn't nearly as successful, he'll get another opportunity overseas to showcase his skills for a brand new audience. 

This new baseball league isn't the first time the Middle East has introduced itself to the athletic world in recent seasons. 

Already with investments in LIV Golf, the FIFA World Cup and international soccer talent thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival to the region, this newest dip into the sports pool shows another commitment to growing their athletic influence on the rest of the world.