Николас Маркакис: Американдық бейсболшының мансабы

American baseball player

Nicholas William Markakis (/m//ɑr/'/k//eɪ//k//ɪ//s/ marKAYkis) (born November 17, 1983) is a Greek American former professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 15 seasons for the Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves. Markakis was the Orioles' first round draft pick (seventh overall) in the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft, and made his MLB debut in 2006. Markakis is a three time Gold Glove Award winner, and he won a Silver Slugger Award and was named an MLB All Star in 2018. Markakis previously held the MLB record for consecutive games by an outfielder without making an error (398). Markakis retired prior to the start of the 2021 season.

Markakis was born in Glen Cove, New York, but moved to Woodstock, Georgia, when his family—which includes his parents, Dennis and Mary Lou, and his brothers Dennis, Greg, and Michael—relocated. He is of Greek and German descent.

Markakis began the season as the team's #3 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 him into the #2 hole, placing Melvin Mora behind him. Markakis finished the season in the top 10 in the American League in batting average, OBP, OPS, games played, runs, hits, doubles, bases on balls, *OPS+, and RC (runs created). He also led the league in times on base. He raised his batting average to .306, slugged 20 home runs, hit 48 doubles (third in the major leagues), recorded 87 RBIs, scored 106 runs and stole 10 bases on the season in 157 games. He also had another stellar year in right field, notching 17 assists, which led the majors. Markakis signed a six year, $66.1 million extension through 2014 on January 22, 2009. Markakis has also been honored with his very own shirt this season called "Nick the Stick, Camden's Finest." He finished the 2009 season with a .293 average, 18 home runs, 45 doubles (seventh in the majors), 101 RBIs, 94 runs, and six stolen bases,

Markakis had a stellar 2010 season with the Orioles, finishing with a .297 average, recording 45 doubles (fifth in the majors), 12 home runs, 60 RBIs, 79 runs and seven stolen bases in 160 games. At the end of the season, he was awarded a Gold Glove. After surgery to remove part of the hamate bone in his right wrist, Markakis was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career on June 1, 2012. He began his minor league rehab games with the Double A Bowie Baysox on July 7, and returned to the Orioles on July 13. On September 8, Markakis was hit by a pitch by Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia and suffered a fractured thumb. He then missed the rest of the season and postseason. He later said that he would have been ready to play had the Orioles made it to the World Series; the team was eliminated in five games by the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series. During the 2013 campaign, Markakis was hampered by his wrist injury from the previous season. Markakis had a career low in batting average (.271) and home runs (10), along with 59 RBI which was also far below his 162 game average of 81. April 26, Markakis got the start at first base against the Kansas City Royals due to an injury to teammate Chris Davis in the previous game. It was the first appearance at first base for Markakis since 2011. During the game, Markakis went 2 for 5 with two RBIs including a game winning walk off single in the bottom of the 10th inning. Through his first 102 games, Markakis had a .290 batting average with 34 runs batted in, 50 runs scored, and seven home runs, continuing his errorless streak. On August 3, 2014, Markakis collected his 1,500th career hit against Seattle Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma in the bottom of the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. In his previous at bat, he collected his first career lead off home run, a solo shot to right field to give the Orioles a 1–0 lead in the first inning.

On December 3, 2014, Markakis agreed to a four year $44 million contract with the Atlanta Braves.

On June 18, 2015, Markakis passed Darren Lewis for the record of most errorless games by an outfielder in a game against the Boston Red Sox. The streak later ended on June 25, 2015, during a game against the Washington Nationals at 398 games. On July 20, Markakis hit his first home run as a Brave against the Los Angeles Dodgers, off of Brandon Beachy. He hit two more home runs over the course of the season for a career low total of three. His 181 total hits ranked fourth in the National League. In 2016, he rebounded offensively from his first season with Atlanta despite hitting a career low .269. He hit 13 home runs and drove in 89 RBIs, his most since 2009. He finished the season with a .275 batting average, 76 RBIs, 163 hits, and eight home runs in 160 games. Batting .322 with 10 home runs and 59 RBIs, he was named a starting outfielder for the 2018 MLB All Star Game. He set new records for the most career hits (2,172) and most games played (1,933) by a player making his debut as an All Star. Markakis, following another impressive defensive season in right field, earned his third Gold Glove award in 2018. In addition to the Gold Glove, Markakis also won his first career Silver Slugger as an outfielder after finishing the season with a .297 batting average, 185 hits, 14 home runs, and 93 RBIs in 162 games, all highs while a member of the Braves. He was also durable, having appeared in all 162 games for the first time in his career, while also leading the league in games played. On July 26, 2019, Markakis was struck by a pitch from Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Irvin, and left the game. Prior to his placement on the 10 day injured list, Markakis had played in every game of the 2019 season to that point. He returned to the active roster on September 13. In 2019, Markakis batted .285/.356/.420 with nine home runs and 62 RBI in 116 games.

Following a discussion with teammate Freddie Freeman, who was diagnosed with COVID 19 before the 2020 season began, Markakis initially decided to opt out of the 2020 season. On July 29, however, Markakis announced that he planned to rejoin the Braves. He was added to the team's active roster on August 5. Markakis was placed on the injured list on August 18, due to potential exposure to COVID 19 while not with the team. He was reactivated on August 25. In 2020, Markakis batted .254 (a career low)/.312/.392 with 15 runs, one home run, and 15 RBI in 130 at bats.

Growing up, Markakis was a Boston Red Sox fan. He wore #21 while with the Orioles in honor of Roger Clemens, but changed to #22 upon joining the Braves, as #21 is retired for Warren Spahn. Coincidentally, #22 was the number of right fielder Jason Heyward, who was traded from the Braves to the St. Louis Cardinals before the 2015 season, and replaced by Markakis. Markakis married Christina Dutko in 2008. He became the brother in law of Ryan Flaherty when the latter married Christina's sister Ashley in 2016. Markakis and his wife have three sons. The couple live year round in Monkton, Maryland, where Markakis purchased a home during the 2008 season. He also owns a house in Waynesville, North Carolina.

His outreach activities involve 'Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer', Prostate Cancer Foundation, and the Home Run Challenge. Nick was also nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award on September 2, 2009.

The Right Side Foundation was started by Markakis and his wife Christina on May 28, 2009. The foundation was created to help distressed children, whether they are disadvantaged, 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. The Markakis 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. The Markakis family suspended their charity in 2013 and continued philanthropic efforts through another charity, the Casey Cares Foundation.