Jose Marmolejos

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Washington Nationals #18 prospect in 2018
  Marmolejos has been remarkably consistent with his bat throughout his seven seasons in the Nationals organization and has one of the most mature and polished hitting approaches of any player in the system. After being named the Nationals' minor league player of the year in both 2015 and 2016, the 24-year-old put up solid numbers once again in his first full season at Double-A Harrisburg in 2017. Marmolejos has an all-fields approach at the plate and handled lefthanders just fine with half of his 14 homers coming against same-side pitchers. His defensive profile and a lack of impact power cap Marmolejos' ceiling. He's more of a doubles hitter without much physical projection left and is at best a fringe-average defender at both first base and in the outfield. He's a below-average runner with a below-average arm and is still working on improving his footwork at first base and routes in left field. Marmolejos should be tested against Triple-A pitching in 2018 and doesn't have much left to prove offensively before getting a chance to serve as a big league pinch-hitter or as part of a platoon.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #26 prospect in 2017
  Born in New Jersey, Marmolejos moved between the U.S. and the Dominican Republic a few times while growing up, eventually finishing high school in Florida. After going undrafted in 2010, he returned to the Dominican Republic and signed as an international free agent a year later for $55,000. Marmolejos broke out over the last two years, and the Nationals named him their Minor League Player of the Year in both 2015 and '16. After he reached Double-A Harrisburg in the second half of 2016, Washington added him to the 40-man roster in November. Marmolejos has a simple, repeatable swing and has a patient, disciplined approach at the plate. His swing is geared to produce line drives and, as a result, his power mostly results in doubles into the gaps. While Marmolejos has occasionally played left field as a professional, he is best suited to first base, where he is a capable defender. His hitability as a lefthander makes him a solid candidate to carve out a role as a platoon player or pinch hitter. For now, however, he'll return to Harrisburg in 2017 to continue to play every day.