Chris Marrero

Marrero spent most of 2011 with Syracuse, but he did become the Nationals' starting first baseman for the last few weeks of the season. As a former first-round draft pick, Marrero has yet to show consistent power in his professional career posting a .172 ISO. He showed terrible patience at the major league level swinging at 35.4 percent of pitches out of the strike zone and walking only 3.2 percent of the time. In addition, he is a below average fielder at first base. Due to offseason surgery on a torn hamstring, Marrero is expected to miss the beginning of the 2012 season.

Marrero turned in another serviceable season at Double-A as a 21-year-old, and the Nationals' decision to part ways with Adam Dunn could open up a spot for him in the majors, but he has yet to do anything to really establish himself as the club's first baseman of the future. At best, he looks like a stopgap until someone better comes along.

Marrero got his career back on track after 2008's broken leg, posting solid numbers at High-A before a promotion to Double-A that had less impressive results. He'll only be 21 to start this season so the Nationals have every reason to be patient, but with Adam Dunn likely in his final season in Washington, the team could have an opening in 2011. Marrero still has yet to prove he'll hit for enough power to be a legitimate big league first baseman, but time is still on his side.

Just as he started to figure out High-A pitching, Marrero broke his ankle and missed the second half of 2008. The injury shouldn't cost him any speed since he had none to begin with, and he'll begin the season as a 20-year-old at Double-A with tremendous power potential who hasn't yet really shown more than a glimpse of his upside. He's a good player to consider as a throw-in to a trade in a keeper league, as his value as a prospect might never be lower.

The 15th overall pick in 2006 displayed the power expected of him in his full-season debut, blasting 14 home runs in 57 games at Low-A before a promotion. Curiously, Marrero's patience at the plate improved dramatically at High-A even as his SLG sagged, providing a glimpse of a kid who could turn out to be a well-rounded offensive force rather than just a slugger. Defense is a concern but his bat should play at any position, and further development could put Marrero in Double-A before his 20th birthday.

Marrero, the 15th overall pick in 2006, had a decent pro debut until being felled by viral meningitis. A third baseman in high school, he was immediately moved to right field due to the presence of Ryan Zimmerman, an indication of how quickly the Nationals feel he might be able to rise through the system (or at least, how long they feel Zimmerman will be in Washington). Even if he meets the club's expectations though, Marrero still hasn't played a full professional season yet, and there's nothing in his profile to indicate he could make a major league debut any sooner than about 2010.