SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants signed 16-year-old pitcher Luis Angel Mateo from the Dominican Republic to a minor league contract on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-3, 175-pound right-hander signed with San Francisco on the first day international prospects were allowed to sign with major league teams. Mateo still has to take a physical with the team, but he's expected to begin playing in the Instructional League this fall.

"He is a young, strong pitcher who shows good command of two pitches with a plus breaking ball," said John Barr, the Giants' special assistant to the general manager.

Although terms of the deal were not announced, Mateo is believed to sign for significantly lower than the deal given to fellow teenage pitching prospect Michael Inoa earlier in the day. Inoa, also from the Dominican Republic, agreed to terms with the Oakland Athletics on a deal that includes a $4.25 million signing bonus.

San Francisco first began scouting Mateo in late 2007 and invited the pitching prospect to attend a camp run by the team in the Dominican Republic. Mateo worked out at the camp for nearly three weeks and played for a team operated by Giants, and his performance convinced team officials to offer him a contract.

Barr said Mateo would have projected as a second- or third-round pick had he been available for the amateur draft, though the Giants have yet to determine whether he will be a starter or reliever.

"Do I think he has the stuff right now to possibly become a starter some day? Yes. But at the same time he hasn't even been with us long enough," Barr said.