Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis is retiring after a 15-year career.
Markakis, a three-time Gold Glove winner, holds the record for consecutive games without fault for an outfielder at 398. He was as stable on the record as he was in the outfield, finishing with 2,388 career hits and a slash of .288 /.357/ .423. Markakis played in no fewer than 104 games every year of his career, with the exception of the 2020 pandemic-shortened season.
“I say to myself all the time, whether it’s or if I was lucky enough to have that chance to become a Hall of Famer – to get that many hits – those 3,000 hits or 2,400 hits, it’s not about the player that I was, “Markakis told The Athletic.” I think I played the right way and that’s all that really matters to me. “
The 37-year old was drafted seventh overall by the Baltimore Orioles in 2003 and spent the first nine years of his career with the Orioles. Born in Georgia, Markakis signed with the Braves for the 2015 season. His only All-Star season came when he played for Atlanta in 2018 at the age of 34.