The Red Sox will sign New Zealand softball star Te Wera Bishop and invite him to spring training.
Though this report might look like it comes from The Onion, it does not.
The news was originally reported by Stuff.co.nz, with Boston Globe reporter Peter Abraham making it known to the U.S.
The report says that Bishop tried out for several MLB teams, but the Red Sox were the first to make an offer for the catcher with "excellent hands and a strong throwing arm."
"We have been impressed by his abilities behind the plate," Red Sox scout Jon Deeble told the website. "With instruction from our Boston Red Sox coaches, we are confident he can make the appropriate changes from softball to baseball. … There needs to be a few minor adjustments made from the softball swing to baseball, with the ball coming from different angles. This will also take time, but watching him hit some baseballs, he showed us a great amount of bat speed."
The plan for Bishop, according to the report, is to have him attend spring training and extended spring training, followed by the Australian MLB Academy in June.
"I don't know what to expect," Bishop said. "I'm just over the moon."
