BRADENTON -- The Bradenton Marauders have their first major-league ballplayer.

Nathan Adcock has made the Kansas City Royals’ 25-man roster and will be with the team when it opens the regular season Thursday at home against the Los Angeles Angels.

Adcock spent all of last year with the Marauders, a Single-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, before he was chosen by the Royals in the Rule 5 draft.

The Pirates acquired Adcock, 23, from Seattle during a 2009 trade that sent Ian Snell and Jack Wilson to the Mariners. Adcock, who has never played higher than Single-A, went 11-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 27 starts last year for the Marauders.

He had a 3.46 ERA in eight games this spring with the Royals, striking out four and walking four in 13 innings. Adcock made two starts this spring but is expected to begin the season in the bullpen.

The Marauders begin their second season Thursday, April 7 on the road against the Charlotte Stone Crabs before hosting the Stone Crabs at 6:30 p.m. following night for their home opener at McKechnie Field.