Indians sign 16-year-old catcher from Czech Republic

[BlueStateSaint]

I suppose that there might be a future in the "tools of ignorance."

Indians sign 16-year-old catcher from Czech Republic

Feb. 21, 2009
CBSSports.com wire reports

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Scouring the globe for talented baseball players, the Cleveland Indians plucked one from Eastern Europe.

The club signed 16-year-old catcher Martin Cervenka of the Czech Republic to a non-drafted minor league contract on Saturday. Peter Gahan, who scouts Europe and Australia for the Indians, discovered the right-handed hitter while evaluating players at Major League Baseball's European Academy in Italy.

The Indians began scouting the academy about one year ago, assistant general manager John Mirabelli said. But several other teams, including the Minnesota Twins and Cincinnati Reds, have previously signed other prospects from Europe, a continent where soccer rules and baseball is still in its infancy.

"It's the new frontier for baseball," Mirabelli said.

Because he's still in high school, the 6-foot-2, 165-pound Cervenka will continue to play for his club team Kotlarka in 2009. Mirabelli said the youngster from Prague will report to the Indians' new year-round Player Development Complex in Arizona during breaks from school -- he won't finish until he's 19 -- and that he will likely play in Australia during the next two summers.

Interesting.  A long-term investment.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/11408557/rss