Braves sign highly rated Colombian pitcher

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves have signed a 16-year-old pitcher from Colombia who was rated as the top available international free agent.

Baseball America ranks right-hander Julio Teheran, who signed with the Braves on Tuesday, as the top international free agent.

The 6-foot-2 Teheran throws a fastball timed at 90 to 93 mph, but some scouts say his best pitch is his changeup.

Johnny Almaraz, the Braves' director of Latin American operations, called Teheran a ``very significant signing'' for the team.

``He has outstanding makeup and the combination of his pitching ability and the quality of his pitches made him one of the top pitching prospects we've seen in a while,'' Almaraz said.