16-year-old Czech signs with Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a minor league contract with a 16-year-old member of the Czech Republic's junior national team.

The Rays announced Wednesday that left-handed pitcher Stepan Havlicek agreed to a deal last week in Blansko, Czech Republic. The club says he is Tampa Bay's first player from the Czech Republic.

The 6-foot-1, 160-pound Havlicek is a longtime member of the Czech Cadets and junior national teams. In August, he struck out 13 over 11 1-3 scoreless innings during the European Juniors Championships in Bonn, Germany.

Tampa Bay says Havlicek likely will attend a portion of extended spring training and play at Major League Baseball's Australia Academy this summer.

"Stepan has a loose, quick arm with good follow through," said John Gilmore, the Rays' European and Australian scout. "His fastball has run and his curveball depth. For a young player, he has great control and goes right after hitters."

Havlicek attends Sport Grammar School in the city of Brno, Czech Republic.

"This is a great opportunity for me to play against talented players," Havlicek said. "Everything will be new for me in the States and it will definitely be a great experience."

The agreement is part of Tampa Bay's expanded international scouting efforts in Asia, Australia and Europe.