Nick Markakis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Nick Markakis | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Baltimore Orioles — No. 21 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: November 17, 1983 Glen Cove, New York |
|
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| MLB debut | |
| April 3, 2006 for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Career statistics (through 2009) |
|
| Batting average | .298 |
| Home runs | 77 |
| Runs batted in | 362 |
| Teams | |
|
|
Nicholas William Markakis (born November 17, 1983 in Glen Cove, New York) is a Major League Baseball outfielder currently with the American League's Baltimore Orioles.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Markakis was born on Long Island, New York, but he later moved to Woodstock, Georgia with his family. Nick's family includes his parents, Dennis and Mary Lou; his brother Dennis, his brother Michael, also an alumnus of Young Harris College; and his brother Greg. Markakis is half-Greek and half-German.[1]
[edit] College/Olympic career
At Young Harris College, Markakis played as both an outfielder and a pitcher, hitting .439 with 21 home runs and 92 RBIs, while also gathering a 12–0 win–loss record as a pitcher with 1 save and a 1.68 earned run average in 15 games. Most Major League teams viewed Markakis as a pitching prospect, but the Orioles coveted his power. He spent his first year with the Aberdeen IronBirds, producing a strong batting average but little power in his swing. In August 2003, he played in the European National Championships, winning a silver medal with Team Greece. In 2004, Markakis played for the Greek Olympic baseball team in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
[edit] Professional career
[edit] Draft
Markakis was originally drafted in 2001 by the Cincinnati Reds, from Woodstock High School in Woodstock, Georgia but decided to attend Young Harris College instead. The Reds drafted him again in 2002, but he did not sign then either.
He was the Orioles' first-round draft pick, and the seventh player picked overall in 2003.
[edit] Minor league career
He also spent the year 2004 with the Delmarva Shorebirds, where he raised his average and produced more power hitting. In 2005, Markakis started the year with the Frederick Keys and put together a solid first half of the season. He won the Carolina/California League All-Star Game home run derby, and followed that up by being named MVP of the All-Star game after hitting two home runs in the game. Markakis was promoted a short time later to the Bowie Baysox, where he continued to hit well. Markakis was named to the Second Team in the 2005 Minor League All-Star Roster.[1]
During the 2006 offseason, Markakis was widely regarded as the top hitting prospect in the Orioles' farm system. Several teams inquired about him in trades, but the Orioles rebuffed any proposal that included trading Markakis. With the team failing to sign a star outfielder, the Orioles decided instead to sign Sammy Sosa for one year, hoping that Markakis was only a year away from playing the major leagues. Markakis began his first spring training with the Orioles in 2006, and immediately established himself by reaching base 9 out of his first 10 plate appearances. Because of his performance during spring training, Markakis was able to earn a roster spot on the Orioles opening day roster.
[edit] Major league career
[edit] 2006 season
Markakis made his major league debut on April 3, 2006, when he was used as a late inning defensive replacement against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He received his first start and plate appearances on April 5, 2006, also against the Devil Rays. Hitting second and playing left field, Markakis drew three walks in his first three plate appearances and hit a 400 foot home run for his first major league hit in the Orioles 16–6 win.
On August 22, 2006, Markakis went 3 for 4 with 3 home runs in an Orioles 6–3 win at Camden Yards. The game marked his first career three-home-run game, the 18th Oriole to do so and the first since 1999. The feat prompted a curtain call from the dugout, earning him a feat that The Washington Post called "an ovation that is rarely seen in these parts anymore. Curtain calls are for Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park, not Camden Yards."
Markakis batted .291 with 16 homers, 62 RBI, 72 runs, and 2 stolen bases. On defense, he put up impressive stats in defensive ratings such as Range Factor and Fielding Percentage, ranking number two compared with other Major League Right Fielders.
Markakis has been described as being a strong mix of athleticism, power, and speed, by Yahoo Major League Baseball. He is also described as an awesome defender.[2]
[edit] 2007 season
He was the Orioles starting right fielder in 2007. He was 3rd in the AL in games (161) and grounded into double plays (22), 6th in doubles (43), 7th in at bats (637) and hits (191), and 8th in RBIs (112). He also led the team in home runs (23), RBIs (112), batting average (.300), and hits (191) in the 2007 season.
At the end of the season, Markakis could not agree a contract extension with the Orioles so his contract was automatically renewed for another year at the baseline value of $455,000. Nick became eligible for arbitration after the 2008 season, and in the absence of a contract extension, would have become a free agent in 2011.
[edit] 2008 season
Markakis began the 2008 season as the Orioles number three hitter and starting right fielder. He played well early in the year, but as the season went into the summer months, Orioles manager Dave Trembley opted to move Markakis into the number two hole, placing Melvin Mora behind him. Mora thrived in the position, and while Markakis's bat responded well, the move seemed to affect his power. Markakis slugged just 20 HR in 2008, and while that may seem lower than what was expected, he still managed to hit 48 doubles, 87 RBIs, and score 106 runs for his team. Markakis's hitting eye improved in 2008, as his .406 OBP, .306 Avg and career high 99 walks indicate, which may suggest that he's ready for that third spot in the order. Markakis also had another stellar year in right field, notching 17 assists, more than any other outfielder. While these individual numbers may come off as less-than-eye-popping, the 2008 season saw Markakis place in the top 10 in the American League in AVG, OBP, OPS, G, R, H, 2B, BB, *OPS+, RC (runs created), and he led the league in Times on Base.[3] Markakis's 2008 projects a bright future in the majors and himself as one of the faces of the Orioles franchise.
[edit] 2009 season
Markakis signed a 6-year, $66.1 million extension through 2014 on January 22, 2009 avoiding arbitration.[4] Markakis has also been honored with his very own shirt this season called "Nick the Stick, Camden's Finest."[citation needed]
[edit] Nick's Foundation
[5] The Right Side Foundation was started by Nick and his wife Christina on May 28, 2009. The foundation was created to help distressed children, whether they are disadvantage, sick, lonely, or grieving, throughout Maryland. “Christina and I have adopted Maryland as our new home and believe that establishing our Foundation is the most effective way to formalize our charitable efforts and have the greatest impact on children in Maryland,” stated Nick.[6]
Christina and Nick explained that their love of children, and the birth of their son, Taylor, helped decide that the foundation would be based on helping children because they feel that every child deserves to enjoy promise and innocence. “Nick and I have always loved children. As new parents, we see great promise in our son and want to do our part to ensure that other children in Maryland have opportunities to grow and enjoy life," Christina explained.[7] The "Fun for 21" program is the main component in the charity. Through the program, 21 children will get to go through an experience that will help them to forget about the struggles and difficulties and life and enjoy the experience and fun of being a child for a day. Nick and Christina want to give the children an experience that they will be able to take away for a lifetime. Nick has named his program "Fun for 21" because Nick wears jersey number 21 and Christina treats 21 children for each event.
[edit] Other charities Nick is involved with
[8] Outside of the Right Side Foundation, Nick is aso very involved with the Orioles' charitable efforts. He has decided to donate 75,000 dollars per season towards the funds. His other outreach activities involve 'Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer', Prostate Cancer Foundation, and the Home Run Challenge. Nick was also presented the Roberto Clemente Award September 2, 2009. MLB celebrates Roberto Clemente Day as part of its broader "MLB Going Beyond" platform. "MLB Going Beyond" stresses the importance of giving back to the community, as he does in his foundation.
[edit] Personal life
Markakis and his wife, Christina, had their first child on March 11, 2009.[9] A baby boy, Taylor Jason Markakis, weighed in at 7 pounds, 1 ounce. The couple plans to live year-round in Monkton, Maryland, where Markakis purchased a home during the 2008 season.[10]
[edit] See also
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nick Markakis |
- Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game
- List of Baltimore Orioles Opening Day Starting Lineups
[edit] References
- ^ For Angelos and O's, Markakis Making Case - washingtonpost.com
- ^ Rookie Markakis Hits Three Homers
- ^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/markani01.shtml
- ^ http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-markakis121,0,5071672.story
- ^ http://www.rightsidefoundation.org/
- ^ http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2009/05/25/daily11.html
- ^ http://www.rightsidefoundation.org/?page_id=8
- ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090901&content_id=6730654&vkey=pr_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal
- ^ http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-osnotes312,0,6979104.story?track=rss
- ^ http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.orioles23jan23,0,1713391.story
- ^ "'Baseball America - 2005 Minor League All-Star Teams". John Manuel, Baseball America staff. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/051007milbas.html. Retrieved March 7, 2006.
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Bowie Baysox profile
