There were not many signings of European players in 2012. The last one even slipped through Mister-Baseball.com fingers. But not for long. The Baltimore Orioles signed left-handed Czech pitcher Jan Novak to a minor league contract in early December. The 18-year-old participated in the 2010, 2011, and 2012 MLB European Academies in Tirrenia, Italy. In the Czech Extraleague he played for Kotlarka Prague and accumulated an ERA of 5.72 in 11 appearances. He struck out 38 in 28 1/3 innings, walking 17. In September he played for the Czech junior national team at the IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship in Seoul, Korea.