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CarL1 Potomac Nationals

P-Nats Picked for Postseason All-Star Squad

September 3, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va- Asked to carry the defending Carolina League champions into the 2009 season, Chris Marrero and Danny Espinosa proved that the organization's faith in their abilities was definitely well-warranted. When the Carolina League Postseason All-Star team was announced Wednesday, it was no surprise that both Marrero and Espinosa found themselves penciled in with the league's elite after enjoying stellar seasons with the Potomac Nationals.

Marrero, who recently was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg for the first time in his career, hit .287 with 16 home runs and 67 RBI in 112 games for the P-Nats this season. In his third season in the Carolina League, the slugging first baseman enjoyed his most successful year with the team, leading the squad in hits (119), at bats (414), and OPS (.824) at the time of his promotion. The 21-year-old enjoyed a sizzling month of July in which he hit .354 with five home runs and 17 RBI to go along with a .453 on-base percentage and an astounding OPS of 1.057 en route to taking home the honor of the Carolina League's Player of the Month award.

Coming into the season, Baseball America ranked Marrero as the Washington organization's top hitting prospect, and he helped carry the team to their second-half surge, hitting .298 with nine home runs and 29 RBI after the All-Star break. One of the best clutch hitters on the team as well, Marrero batted .314 with runners in scoring position and two outs, driving in 29 in such situations.

For Espinosa, his first full season of professional baseball has landed him on the top of many prospect lists around Minor League Baseball. Through 128 games, the slick-fielding shortstop is hitting .263 with 17 home runs and 68 runs batted in on top of playing sensational defense at a premium position. Showing patience beyond his years at the plate, the 22-year-old Espinosa is currently second in the league in walks (71) and fifth in on-base percentage (.373). He also ranks second on the team with 28 stolen bases.

The switch-hitting shortstop saved his finest work for the season's final full month, hitting .316 in the month of August with seven home runs and 19 runs batted in. He reached base at a .425 clip while earning an OPS of 1.025 in 28 games. A model of consistency, Espinosa has earned nearly identical numbers from the first to the second half in virtually every category from batting average to doubles to slugging percentage.

Espinosa also earned recognition on a national level during this season with his selection to the Major League Baseball All-Star Futures Game to kick off the All-Star festivities in St. Louis. At the game, Espinosa took the field with the top prospects in all of Minor League Baseball, playing the entire game at shortstop for the U.S. squad.

The P-Nats are still alive in the quest to defend their Mills Cup title as the team will finish out their final homestand of the season with the last regular season game taking place on Monday, September 7 at 1:05 ET from Pfitzner Stadium.

For more information on tickets, daily promotions, and all things P-Nats, call (703) 590-2311 or log onto www.potomacnationals.com to join the party!

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Carolina League Stories from September 3, 2009


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