Nick Markakis
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| Baltimore Orioles — No. 21 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
|---|---|
| April 3, 2006 for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through August 31, 2006) |
|
| Batting Average | .291 |
| Home Runs | 16 |
| RBI | 62 |
| Former teams | |
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Nicholas William Markakis (mar-KA-kis) (born November 17, 1983 in Glen Cove, New York) is an outfielder who currently plays for the Baltimore Orioles and went to Young Harris College.
Contents |
[edit] Early Life
Nick Markakis was born in New York, but later moved to Woodstock, Georgia with his family. His family was one of the first to move into Deer Run, a subdivision in Towne Lake. He has an older brother named Dennis and two younger brothers named Michael and Greg.
[edit] Draft
He was the Orioles' first-round draft pick, seventh player picked overall, in 2003 and was named to the Second Team in the 2005 Minor League All-Star Roster. Markakis was originally drafted in 2001 by the Cincinnati Reds, from Woodstock High School in Woodstock, GA but decided to attended Young Harris College instead. The Reds drafted him again in 2002, but did not sign then either.
[edit] College / Olympic Career
At Young Harris College, Markakis played as both an outfielder and a pitcher, hitting for a .439 batting average with 21 home runs and 92 RBIs, while also gathering a 12-0 win-loss record as a pitcher with one 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 2004, Markakis played for the Greek Olympic baseball team
[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 baseball 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 and earn a reputation as the Orioles' hottest prospect.
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 Jeff Conine 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] 2006 Professional Baseball Debut/Rookie Year
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 three 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 for Markakis, 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." Nick Markakis generally had a well received rookie year and he put up stats thats are impressive for a rookie right fielder.He batted .291 with 16 homers, 62 RBI, 72 runs and 2 stolen bases. On defense he put up impressive stats in defensive ratings such ad [Range Factor] and Fielding Percentage ranking number two compared with other Major League Right Fielders. He is expected to be the Orioles starting Right Fielder next year. Markakis have been described as being a strong mix of athleticism, power and speed, by Yahoo Major League Baseball. He is also described as a very good defender.
Markakis is half Greek and half German in background.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ 'Baseball America - 2005 Minor League All-Star Teams. John Manuel, Baseball America staff. Retrieved on March 7, 2006.
[edit] External links
- Orioles' Hangout - Nick Markakis (requires subscription)
- Bowie Baysox profile
- [4]
Categories: Cleanup from February 2007 | All pages needing cleanup | 1983 births | Aberdeen IronBirds alumni | Baltimore Orioles players | Baseball players at the 2004 Summer Olympics | Living people | German-Americans | Greek-Americans | Major league outfielders | Major league players from Georgia | Olympic competitors for Greece | People from Georgia (U.S. state)
