The Nationals have designated 29-year old righty swinging outfielder Brett Carroll for assignment. He played in 5 games for the Nationals this year and he was 0 for 2 (.000 avg, .000 OPS) with 2 runs scored. The Nationals have called up 32-year old lefty swinging outfielder Rick Ankiel off his rehab assignment. Ankiel played in 8 games in A+AA+AAA-ball on his rehab assignment and he was 8 for 20 (.400 avg, 1.438 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 3 homers and 7 RBIs. The Nationals shouldn’t miss Carroll at all, and Ankiel should step right into some P.T. for them.

UPDATE: (4/24/2012) - The Nationals have sent Brett Carroll outright to AAA.

The Nationals have five rookies that could help them at some point in 2012, and here’s a look at them:

Bryce Harper: 19-year old lefty swinging outfielder Bryce Harper comes into this season as the Nationals’ #1 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 109 games in A+AA-ball last year and he was 115 of 387 (.297 avg, .894 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 17 homers, 58 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. Harper is likely going to get to Washington at some point in 2012.

Steve Lombardozzi: 23-year old switch-hitting 2B/SS Steve Lombardozzi comes into this season as the Nationals’ #10 prospect according to Baseball America. Lombardozzi played in 13 games for the Nationals last year and he was 6 for 31 (.194 avg, .445 OPS) with 3 runs scored and 1 RBI. He also played in 134 games in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 172 of 556 (.309 avg, .790 OPS) with 86 runs scored, 8 homers, 52 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. Lombardozzi has now played in 447 games in his first four years with the Nationals and he is 522 of 1,749 (.298 avg, .780 OPS) with 289 runs scored, 17 homers, 183 RBIs and 74 stolen bases. Lombardozzi will likely help the Nationals at some point in 2012.

Tyler Moore: 25-year old righty swinging 1B Tyler Moore comes into this season as the Nationals’ #16 prospect according to Baseball America. Moore played in 137 games in AA-ball last year and he was 140 of 519 (.270 avg, .846 OPS) with 70 runs scored, 31 homers, 90 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has now played in 448 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 453 of 1,707 (.265 avg, .799 OPS) with 203 runs scored, 77 homers, 316 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Moore could push Adam LaRoche at some point in 2012.

Chris Marrero: 23-year old righty swinging 1B/OF Chris Marrero comes into the 2012 season as the Nationals’ #12 prospect according to Baseball America. Marrero played in 31 games for the Nationals last year and he was 27 of 109 (.248 avg, .567 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 0 homers and 10 RBIs. He also played in 127 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 145 of 483 (.300 avg, .825 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 14 homers, 69 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Marrero has now played in 620 games in his first six years in the minors and he is 658 of 2,310 (.285 avg, .809 OPS) with 320 runs scored, 83 homers, 369 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Marrero is going to likely be out until July due to a hamstring injury, but he could help the Nationals late in the year.

Cole Kimball: 26-year old righty reliever Cole Kimball comes into this season as the Nationals’ #26 prospect according to Baseball America. He worked in 12 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He also pitched in 12 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year in which he was 1-0 with 5 saves, a 0.00 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Kimball has now pitched in 166 games (45 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 23-24 with 33 saves, a 4.33 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Kimball will be out until the All-Star break due to a right shoulder injury, but he could help the Nationals late in the year.

23-year old lefty starting pitcher Sammy Solis came into this season as the Nationals’ #8 prospect according to Baseball America. He needs to have Tommy John Surgery next week, so he’s going to miss the entire 2012 season. Solis played in 17 games (all starts) in A-ball for the Nationals last year and he was 8-3 with a 3.26 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Solis has now pitched in 19 games (all starts) in his first two years in the minors and he is 8-3 with a 3.13 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP.

Major League Baseball has suspended 26-year old righty reliever Zech Zinicola for 50 games for his second violation of the minor league drug prevention and treatment program. He tested positive for a drug of abuse. Zinicola pitched in 32 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 3-0 with 5 saves, a 2.01 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. He has now pitched in 228 games (0 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 18-15 with 49 saves, a 4.05 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. This is a bad break for Zinicola, as he pitched really well last year. It’s hard to feel too sorry for him though as he did this to himself.

The Nationals have released 27-year old righty reliever Adam Carr. Carr pitched in 17 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Nationals this year and he was 2-2 with a 6.63 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. He has now pitched in 216 games (11 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 21-20 with 44 saves, a 4.41 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. This is no loss for the Nationals.