The Atlanta Braves announced Monday they have signed 18-year-old pitcher Shohei Sekiguchi to a minor league contract. Sekiguchi is scheduled to leave for the United States next spring after graduating from Marugame Josei high school in Kagawa Prefecture and take part in the Major League Academy beginning in July to train young hopefuls. The 200-cm left-hander has no experience playing in national-level high school tournaments and was not picked by any of the 12 professional teams in the Japanese leagues during last month's amateur draft for high school players.
