Atkinson is another example of the D-backs finding value outside the mainstream. He went undrafted in 2015, then basically abandoned the game. But the baseball bug was only dormant. He went to an independent Frontier League tryout in June 2016, after only five days to prepare after not having picked up a ball for a year. He won a spot, but was in the league for barely a week before Arizona signed him. Atkinson saw action most recently in the Fall League, posting a 3.00 ERA over 21 innings, with a K:BB of 23:15. Fun fact: Ryan worked as a personal trainer and a patient services manager at a medical center, during his year out before rejoining the pro baseball world.
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training: Names you might not know, non-roster pitchers, volume one
