2-time MLB All-Star Luis Severino joins Baseball United ownership group

MLB All-Star Luis Severino (center) of the New York Mets has joined Baseball United's ownership group. (Baseball United)
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Updated 13 February 2024
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2-time MLB All-Star Luis Severino joins Baseball United ownership group

  • Current New York Mets pitcher becomes 15th MLB investor in new Dubai-based league

DUBAI: Baseball United, the first professional league focused on the Middle East and Indian subcontinent, has announced that Major League Baseball All-Star Luis Severino has joined its investment and ownership group.

At age 29, Severino becomes Baseball United’s youngest MLB co-owner, and second currently active in Major League Baseball, the group said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Dominican Republic native played his first eight seasons for the New York Yankees and signed with the New York Mets earlier this year. Severino was selected for back-to-back All-Star Games in 2017 and 2018, finishing among the league’s top 10 strikeout leaders in both years.

He also led all Major League pitchers with an average fastball velocity of 157 kph in both years, and placed third in American League Cy Young voting in 2017. Severino has earned 54 career wins thus far in his career.

“We are very excited and honored to welcome Luis into our Baseball United ownership group,” said Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Baseball United. “He is not only one of the best young pitchers of this generation, he’s also an inspiring global ambassador for the sport. Like our other MLB Co-Owners, Sevy is passionate about teaching and growing the game. He is a perfect addition to our team, and we can’t wait to see him on the field again in New York this year.”

Baseball United began play in Dubai last November with its inaugural All-Star Showcase, the first professional baseball games in the history of the region. The event was broadcast in 127 countries, reaching 200 million households.

The league’s ownership group now includes 15 MLB legends, including Barry Larkin, Mariano Rivera, Adrian Beltre, Felix Hernandez, Robinson Cano, Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols. The league is scheduled to announce its 2024 plans later this year.

“I am thrilled to join Kash, John (Miedreich), and all the Co-Owners at Baseball United on this journey,” said Severino. “Not only is this league going to be great for the game of baseball, it’s going to be great for the community. I am especially excited to work with the younger kids and to teach them how to pitch, how to play, and how to respect the sport. I’m excited to see what this part of the world can do in the world of baseball.”


Mohammed Ben Sulayem re-elected as president of FIA

Updated 16 min 53 sec ago
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Mohammed Ben Sulayem re-elected as president of FIA

  • He starts his second 4-year term following the election of his presidential list by the General Assembly in Tashkent

DUBAI: FIA, the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organizations worldwide, today confirmed that Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been re-elected as its president, following the election of his presidential list by the General Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.  

Ben Sulayem now begins his second four-year term, having overseen a period of significant renewal and stabilization for the organization since his initial election in 2021. 

Over the past four years, FIA has undergone a wide-ranging transformation, improving governance and operations and restoring the financial health of the federation. These changes have strengthened FIA’s position as the world’s governing body for motorsport and the leading authority on safe, sustainable, and affordable mobility. 

Under Ben Sulayem’s leadership, FIA reversed a $28 million loss in 2021 to a robust operating result of $5.5 million in 2024, the strongest financial result the federation has seen in almost 10 years. 

At the FIA Annual General Assemblies, the organization announced a 2025 operating result forecast of $5.1 million, showing continued momentum and sustained financial improvement. This renewed stability has enabled increased long-term investment in member clubs and strategic programs worldwide. 

Underpinning this momentum is wider institutional reform over the last four years, with strengthened budgetary discipline, enhanced external audit processes and modernized governance structures, resulting in greater transparency, accountability and professional standards across the organization.   

In addition to these reforms, FIA has established a commercial function and strengthened its global institutional identity across both motorsport and mobility, expanding regional development activity, supporting grassroots participation, and deepening engagement with international partners on safety, sustainable mobility and the future of transport. 

Ben Sulayem said: “Thank you to all our FIA members for voting in remarkable numbers and placing your trust in me once again. We have overcome many obstacles, but here today, together, we are stronger than ever.  

“It is truly an honor to be FIA president, and I am committed to continuing to deliver for the FIA, for motorsport, for mobility, and for our member clubs in every region around the world.”