BP Unfiltered: Unfamiliar Names in Familiar Places by R.J. Anderson

As teams settle on their Opening Day rosters, some unknown names will sneak onto 25-man rosters –particularly in the bullpens. Consider this some dirt on a few of these mystery men. Nathan Adcock (Royals) The Mariners’ 2006 fifth round pick, Adcock is now with his third organization in a matter of two and a half seasons. Pittsburgh acquired Adcock in the Jack Wilson and Ian Snell trade, but left him exposed in the Rule 5. Adcock’s stuff is what is as he uses a low-90s fastball and throws strikes, but his minor league career strikeout-to-walk ratio is just 1.91. He’s never thrown a pitch in Double-A or above, yet the Royals evidently like him enough to place him in their bullpen, at least long enough for him to pull a hamstring or dislocate a pinky finger. As with all Rule 5 picks, Adcock cannot be optioned to the minors unless the Royals acquire his rights through an additional trade. Michael Crotta (Pirates) Crotta started throughout his minor league car...