The Toronto Blue Jays have signed 16-year-old Brazilian pitcher Eric Pardinho to a deal worth $1.4 million, making him the highest-paid Brazilian prospect ever.
The signing took place Thursday afternoon at the Hilton Hotel Morumbi in Sao Paulo, and was confirmed to ESPN by a Blue Jays source.
Leading up to the beginning of the international signing period on Sunday, Pardinho was considered one of the top pitchers available. In May, MLB.com ranked him as the No. 5 prospect overall, and the only hurler among the top 26.