Painting the Black: Who Are These Guys? by R.J. Anderson

It happens every spring. You enjoy opening weekend, taking in as much baseball as possible, but find yourself wondering who some of these guys are. Not every player with a new role on Opening Day is a former top prospect or an established veteran. Some never even made Kevin Goldstein’s top-20 rankings. To fill in some blanks, here are 12 pitchers and players who may have flown under your radar until recently. Brad Brach, RHP, Padres Brach’s major-league debut came last August and didn’t make headlines. The lack of attention he garnered is no surprise, but Brach reaching the majors at all might be one. Not only does Brach hail from a northern state (New Jersey) and a non baseball-factory university (Monmouth University, home to one other major-leaguer—Ed Halicki), he was also a 42nd-round selection. Brach doesn’t require sympathy since he has enough skills to project as a future late-innings reliever. Start with the 6-foot, 6-inch frame and the arm strength that allows him to to...