Marc Krauss

Krauss, a left-handed hitting outfielder, made his major league debut with the Astros in June after displaying good power potential in the minors. The 26-year-old accumulated 146 plate appearances, but only hit four home runs and struck out 30.8% of the time after showing solid plate discipline at the Triple-A level. Krauss will likely get another opportunity in Houston this season as a left-handed bat off the bench or DH, but it remains to be seen whether he will break camp with the club or if it will take an injury to a starter to get that opportunity.

Krauss had little difficulty mashing in the High-A California League last season, swatting 25 homers and ranking sixth in the league in that category. Defensively, he's better suited to play left field than right, but Krauss was given some time there in the Arizona Fall League and didn't exactly draw rave reviews. That said, the combination of raw power, on-base skills and ability to hit to the opposite field are enough to make him intriguing. He'll open 2011 at Double-A Mobile, where more advanced pitching and fewer hitter-friendly environments should paint a clearer picture about his his big league future. If his defense is deemed adequate, there may not be much standing in his way for the left field gig in Arizona with the organization souring on Gerardo Parra as an everyday player.