Twenty year old Czech Republic native Marek Minarik has signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. An official announcement will follow once his visa is processed. Minarik played the 2013 season for Kotlarka Prague in the Czech Extraleague, after two seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies system. The 6’7″ righthander will report to Pirate City in Bradenton, Florida in February to prepare and be assigned a club for the 2014 season. With the Phillies he had an ERA of 3.15 in 15 games in 2011 and 2012 in the Gulf Coast League. With Kotlarka he went 5-0 with an ERA of 2.91 in 20 games this year. He struck out 33 and walked 30 in 43 1/3 innings.