He occupies the spot in the batting order that once belonged to the most prolific position player prospect in the Washington Nationals’ minor league system.
Tim Pahuta can’t really worry about that. His job the rest of the season isn’t to replace Chris Marrero. It’s simply to drive in runs and help the Potomac Nationals chase down a playoff spot.
That is the opportunity that now exists for the 26-year-old slugger, who has started every game at first base since Marrero was promoted to Double A Harrisburg on August 17.
“I don’t want to be in anybody’s shadow. I want to create my own image,” Pahuta said. “It’s tough to follow Marrero . He’s had a good year and he’s developed into a good first baseman so if anybody deserved to move up it’s him.
“I just hope I can fill the slot as best I can and add my own individual twist to it.”
As an 18th round draft pick in 2005, Pahuta is just beginning to establish himself in professional baseball after establishing career highs with 17 home runs, 73 RBI and 42 runs scored last summer with Hagerstown in the South Atlantic League.
And, if the P-Nats are going to overtake Wilmington in the Northern Division’s second-half pennant race, they will probably need some big at-bats from the former Seton Hall star.
Which is why Pahuta really doesn’t have time to concern himself with the numbers – 16 home runs, 65 RBI -- that Marrero put up this season in Woodbridge as he recovered from a broken fibula and emerged as the Washington Nationals’ first baseman of the future.
“I should be playing first (base) pretty regularly the rest of the year so I can definitely build on getting consistent at-bats,” said Pahuta, who missed the entire 2007 campaign with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
“Taking a year off from seeing live pitching makes coming back really hard because everything looks a lot faster,” he said. “But I had a good year last year and I’m happy to play whenever I get the opportunity to and hopefully I’ll capitalize on it.”
Over the final 18 games of the regular season, Pahuta and his teammates have just one thought in mind – winning.
He did his part during Friday’s 11-0 victory over Salem – going 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI to raise his season average to .272.
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