Cards sign highly regarded Latin teen

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to terms with 16-year-old outfielder Wagner Mateo, considered to be among the top amateur free agents from Latin America.

The signing announced Thursday is contingent on Mateo passing a physical in St. Louis later this summer. Terms were not disclosed.

Mateo is from Santo Domingo, Dominican Repulic. General manager John Mozeliak calls the signing "a significant step" in the organization's effort to obtain the best talent in Latin America.

Mateo is 6-2 and 190 pounds. He throws and bats left-handed. He represented the Dominican Republic in Major League Baseball's RBI World Series in 2007 and 2008.