Nick Markakis

The 2008 season was a year in which Baltimore Orioles’ starting rightfielder Nick Markakis established himself as an emerging star in Major League Baseball. His most productive season to date, Markakis appeared in 157 games, setting career highs in average (.306), on-base percentage (.406) and slugging percentage (.491). He also led the American League with 17 outfield assists and finished in the top 10 in a number of categories, including average, OBP, games played (157), walks (99), doubles (48), runs (106), hits (182) and extra-base hits (69).

Markakis was chosen by the Baltimore Orioles in the first round (7th overall pick) of the 2003 First Year Player Draft. Coveted by the Orioles for his offensive ability, Markakis did not disappoint the club as he quickly ascended through the Orioles’ farm system, serving as a major contributor with affiliates in Aberdeen, Delmarva, Frederick and Bowie. In his final minor league season in 2005, Markakis was named the Brooks Robinson Award winner as the Orioles’ Minor League Player of the Year. While splitting time that season between Class A Frederick and AA Bowie, he combined to bat .310 with 41 doubles, three triples, 15 home runs and 92 RBI in 124 games.

Markakis made his MLB debut on April 3, 2006 as a late inning defensive replacement in a game against divisional rival Tampa Bay. Later in that series, he made his first start on April 5th, going 1-for-3 with three consecutive walks before homering off pitcher Dan Miceli for his first major league hit in his first at-bat. Among Markakis’ many highlights in 2006 included becoming only the 21st rookie in major league history to hit three home runs in one game – the first time any Orioles rookie had ever accomplished such a feat. He finished his initial major league season by setting an Orioles’ rookie record for highest average (.291) among qualifiers with 502 plate appearances, finishing sixth in American League Rookie of the Year voting and being named as an outfielder on the Baseball Digest and Topps All-Rookie teams.

The talented outfielder continued his success in his sophomore season as he was named Most Valuable Oriole in 2007 by the local media after hitting .300 with a team-leading 23 home runs and 112 RBI in 161 games. Markakis ranked among the American League leaders in games played (3rd - 161); doubles (tied for 6th – 43); at-bats (7th – 637); hits (7th - 191); total bases (7th - 309); RBI (8th - 112); extra-base hits (tied for 9th - 69); and multi-hit games (tied for 9th - 57). Defensively, he finished fifth in the American League with 13 outfield assists and was sixth among all American League outfielders with a .994 fielding percentage.

Markakis was not always a standout outfielder. In fact, at Georgia’s Young Harris College, he excelled as both an outfielder and a pitcher. At the plate, he hit .439 with 21 home runs and 92 RBIs, while recording a 12-0 record, with one save and a 1.68 ERA in 15 games on the mound…he also led all junior college pitchers with 160 strikeouts. In 2002, Markakis was named Junior College Player of the Year by Baseball America, the same publication that listed him as the second best junior college prospect in 2003. Markakis’ impact however, did not have borders. Being of Greek descent, he missed the final month of the 2004 season to play for the Greek Olympic Baseball Team during the 2004 games in Athens, Greece. He led the team with a .346 batting average and six RBI, while allowing one earned run in pitching 2.1 innings.

In January 2009, Markakis signed a six-year contract extension with the Orioles. His busy off-season continued as he and his wife, Christina, welcomed their first child, Taylor, in March 2009. Nick, Christina and their son reside in Monkton, Md.