"There's never been a major league baseball player to come out of New Zealand. And despite reports from the country that 17-year-old first baseman Pita Rona has signed a seven-year "major league" contract with the Orioles, it's actually far from that.

The Orioles have signed the 6-foot-5, 175-pound Rona to a minor-league deal and he will report to Major League Baseball's developmental academy in Australia. Rona, who has played for the New Zealand men's national softball team (commonly referred to as the Black Sox), shifted his focus to baseball last year. His father, Brad, is also a prominent softball player in New Zealand and together they were the first father-son duo to play for the national team at the same time."