Strasburg Smurf and the Best MLB Rookie Hazing Moments

September is the time of the baseball year when rosters begin to resemble those of a spring training game, as a number of minor league call-ups are made when rosters expand, and for the casual fan there are unfamiliar players seeing consistent playing time.

For veteran players, this can sometimes mean lost playing time as the team evaluates for the future. However, the veterans generally get the last laugh, thanks in part to the timeless art of rookie hazing.

Here is a sample of some of the best rookie hazing pictures from around the web, a chance to see players like you never get to and—more times than not —like you never wanted to. 

Honorable Mention: 2011 New York Yankees

This excellent collection of costumes actually came into existence on September 26th of this season.

The Yankees will show up again on this list, but it is impossible to ignore Milli Vanilli, George Michael, Prince, Madonna, MC Hammer and Slash hamming it up with manager Joe Girardi.

The rookies depicted here are Andrew Brackman, Dellin Betances, Hector Noesi, Austin Romine, Jesus Montero and Brandon Laird left to right.

Cla Meredith

While he made a name for himself as a reliever for the Padres, Cla Meredith broke into the league as a reliever with the Red Sox—a time he would likely rather forget, as he posted a 27.00 ERA in three outings and had the privilege of being Little Bo Peep in his short time there.

New York Yankees

Current Astros closer Mark Melancon (Batman) and fellow Yankees rookies Ramiro Pena (Catwoman) and Mike Dunn (The Riddler), along with a trio of members of support staff, took the Batman craze to a weird level in 2009.

J.P. Arencibia and Brett Lawrie

The Toronto Blue Jays have a promising future thanks to young players like catcher J.P. Arencibia (left) and third baseman Brett Lawrie (right).

While Toronto's rookie hazing follows no particular theme, there is no denying that they have made these two look absolutely ridiculous.

David Price

Despite his postseason heroics in his first professional season for the Tampa Bay Rays, Price was still a rookie the following year, and he was treated as such: he donned the blonde wig and pink dress on his way to the ballpark.

Huston Street

Now an established closer, Huston Street was rushed to the majors by the Oakland A's after being drafted out of the University of Texas in the first round of the 2004 draft.

He made it just in time to do his best Britney Spears impression.

Cincinnati Reds

Grown men in dresses is weird.

A grown man in a diaper with a bonnet and a baby bottle is a whole different level of weird, as you can see here.

San Diego Padres

Rookie hazing is fun, but the Padres may have taken things a bit far with the Hooters-dressed rookies. Maybe it is just me, but the more you look at this picture the more you wish you had never looked at this picture.

Oakland Athletics

As disturbing as the Padres Hooter girls are, this one may be even worse. You can look at this picture again and again and always find something new that you didn't see before, and that you hope you never see again.

Mike Trout

The Los Angeles Angels hope to see much more of top prospect Mike Trout in the years to come. In a different vein, everyone hopes to see much, much less of Trout moving forward after he took his turn in short shorts and a revealing top.

Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals

And finally, the picture that inspired this disturbing run through rookie hazings, super-prospect Stephen Strasburg dressed as Papa Smurf.

Joining him in ridiculousness were several teammates as generic smurfs and catcher Wilson Ramos as Smurfette.