The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed Dutch infield prospect Paul Brands to a seven-year minor league contract. The 18-year-old had been playing for the Vaessen Pioniers and made his Hoofdklasse debut last month. He already has left for Florida to prepare for his professional baseball debut. He is expected to be assigned to the Gulf Coast League affiliate of the Pirates, which starts the 2015 season on June 22. After batting .300 last year for the Pioniers farm team he was named KNBSB’s most promising youth player.