GASTONIA, N.C. – The Gastonia Ghost Peppers have signed OF Narciso Crook and LHP Adam Scott for 2025, announced by general manager Brady Salisbury on Tuesday.
Crook, 29, played in the Reds organization from 2014-2021, reaching as high as Triple-A Louisville. The outfielder then made it to the big leagues with the Cubs in 2022, playing in four games for Chicago. Crook played for Triple-A Worcester in the Red Sox system in 2023, and spent last season with the Chicago Dogs of the American Association. In 100 games with the Dogs, Crook hit .264 with an .892 OPS, 26 homers and 73 RBIs. He also tallied 21 stolen bases.
Scott, 29, was drafted by Cleveland in the fourth round of the 2018 MLB Draft. After attending Wofford College, Scott spent six years pitching in Cleveland’s system, most recently pitching for Triple-A Columbus in 2023. In 23 appearances, including 10 starts, the southpaw posted a 5.83 ERA with Columbus, striking out 45 in 46.1 innings.
With the addition of these two 29-year-olds, the Ghost Peppers have now signed 19 players for the 2025 season.
The players who have signed so far are:
RHP Jimmie Sherfy
RHP Parker Kruglewicz
RHP Ryne Inman
RHP Matt Hartman
RHP Nick Snyder
LHP Nick Horvath
LHP Ryan Hennen
LHP Kevin Smith
LHP Adam Scott
C Gavin Stupienski
C Luis Aviles
INF Jake Hoover
INF Alan Alonso
INF Ethan Skender
INF Braxton Davidson
INF Jack Reinheimer
OF Eric De La Rosa
OF Kevin Watson Jr.
OF Narciso Crook
The team will complete the player signing announcements over the next two weeks.
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Gastonia Ghost Peppers begins its second season of operations with Zawyer Sports & Entertainment – a sports ownership group with professional teams operating in the U.S. and the fifth season for the franchise at CaroMont Health Park in the FUSE District of Gastonia. The Ghost Peppers have made the ALPB Playoffs for three consecutive seasons, setting the league record for highest win percentage in a three-year span (.651 from 2022-2024.)
In their inaugural season, the Ghost Peppers had seven players with contracts purchased by other leagues, whether that be MLB-affiliated clubs or leagues outside the country. They also had two former players make their MLB debuts in 2024 — Spencer Bivens (Tigers) and Bryan Sammons (2024.) Bivens is on the Giants’ 26-man roster in 2025. J.C. Escarra, who played for Gastonia in 2023, is currently on the Yankees’ 26-man roster.
The Ghost Peppers open the 2025 season on Friday, April 25 against the York Revolution. Game time is set for 7 p.m. Single game tickets are currently on sale. Contact the Ghost Peppers office at 980-415-2255, or visit www.ghostpeppersbaseball.com for more information.
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About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) – Celebrating its third decade, the Atlantic League is Major League Baseball’s first Professional Partner League, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. Over its 26-year history, the ALPB has sent over 1,400 players to MLB organizations while drawing over 47 million fans to its 10 family-friendly ballparks that stretch from New York to North Carolina. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.