Nick Markakis Retiring From MLB After 15 Seasons

After 15 seasons in the Major League, Nick Markakis is hanging up his glove. The three-time Gold Glove winner finisher his career with a .288 average and .357 on-base average and 189 home runs. He is 127th all-time on with 2,388 hits and 54th all-time with 514 doubles.

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As the seventh overall pick in 2003, Markakis spent 11 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. In 2012, the Orioles snapped a 17-year playoff drought and made another run in the playoffs in 2014. Markakis holds several franchise records in right field and set the MLB record of 398 consecutive flawless games from an outfielder.

Markakis left for the Braves in 2015 and signed a massive $44 million free-agent contract. During the 2018 season, Markakis played in all 162 games with a hit average of .297/.366/.440. He made his only All-Star game appearance and won his final Gold Glove and the Silver Slugger Award. The All-Star fielder helped the Braves win three National League East titles and a trip to the NL Championship this past season.

After 15 years in the league, Markakis came up just short of the title twice. The National League Championship between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers was the closest Markakis ever got to a World Series championship. Markakis said that was a part of life, and he gave 15 years of his best effort. Markakis plans to focus all of his attention on his family and become a stay-at-home dad.

“I just think it’s my time,” Markakis told The Athletic (note: subscription required.) “My No. 1 decision and my main focus on this is obviously my kids and my family. I’ve been fortunate enough to do this for a very long time and not many people get to do what I’ve gone through. I’m thankful for every second and every minute...I’ve missed so much over the years and sacrificed a lot," Markakis stated. "I think this is the least I can do for them..."