Young Pita Rona signs with the Baltimore Orioles
January 19, 2012
Baltimore, MD
New Zealand teenager Pita Rona has penned a seven-year deal with Major League Baseball franchise the Baltimore Orioles.
The Aucklander, 17, a former Black Sox softball player, controversially switched codes late last year to focus on baseball, and he was signed after Orioles scouts came to New Zealand this week to look at talent.
He will link up with the team's development programme in Australia.
Rona told Radio Sport this morning that he watches a lot of MLB and to know that he could play there is ''crazy'', though he is expecting to have to work extremely hard before he gets a shot at the big time.
New Zealand has never had a major league baseballer.
Maori signs with major league baseball team in US
There are a number of interesting articles on the net today about the signing especially in New Zealand.
Our congratulations and best wishes to Pita on his signing and a big Well Done to his Mom and Dad.