The 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m), 165 lb (75 kg) (11 stone 11) right-hander was signed by the Montreal Expos as an amateur free agent on October 4, 1971, and he played for them from 1976 to 1979.

He was promoted to the Triple-A Memphis Blues where he compiled a record of 3–4 with a 2.80 ERA with 5 saves in 49 games, three starts.

Atkinson made his MLB debut against the St. Louis Cardinals on September 18 at Jarry Park Stadium.

He entered game one of the doubleheader in the top of the fourth with Montreal trailing 4–0, and he proceeded to pitch three scoreless innings of relief before being lifted for a pinch hitter.

Atkinson was purchased by the Chicago White Sox on December 12, 1979 but never again reached the major league level.

He split the 1983 season between the Class-A Appleton Foxes and the Triple-A Denver Bears going a combined 6–5 with a 3.71 ERA in 32 games, five starts.