Nick Markakis Returning To Atlanta Braves In 2-3 Days
By Jeff Schafer
The Atlanta Braves signed outfielder Nick Markakis on December 3, 2014 with a four-year, $44 million contract. On December 17, 2014 Markakis underwent fusion surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck.
He’s been in a neck brace for many months, unable to do much of anything.
On March 6th and March 7th, it was reported that Markakis took some swings off a tee and began throwing with his new teammates.
“I didn’t feel any discomfort,” Markakis said after he did these light activities. “I felt normal. There were no issues. I actually felt normal hitting.”
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On March 8th, Braves beat writer, Mark Bowman said that it’s possible Markakis could be joining the Braves in a game in about two weeks.
On Wednesday night, Fredi Gonzalez addressed the Markakis timetable on the Fox Sports South broadcast.
“We’re just waiting for the last check up from the doctor,” the Braves manager said. “He got an x-ray a couple days ago and the doctor will take a look at those x-rays and will clear him…and we feel as though he will get cleared.”
Getting Markakis cleared from the doctors will be the final step for his return except for his take. If he feels any setbacks, obviously that will slow this process down. Gonzalez said he’s already took a step forward with his baseball activity.
“We’ve got him to run around a little bit,” Gonzalez said. “He’s done a little bit of baseball activity. We’re hoping to get him on the field and take BP with the group within the next two or three days.”
Oct 14, 2014
Two or three days will put him right on path for the March 21st or 22nd prediction date. Give him a few days to take batting practices on the field and a little practice in the outfield, he’ll be ready to go.
“His body has transformed since the day he got here,” Fredi continued. “I saw him today in the weight room and he looks like he’s in better shape. Obviously though, he couldn’t do anything he was in a neck brace for a couple months with the surgery.”
If he does return by March 21st, that would leave 14 games left in the 2015 Spring Training. When asked if he had enough time to make the opening day roster and go with the Braves on opening day to visit the Miami Marlins…
“We sure do, we also have the minor leaguers. So he can go down and leadoff every inning, on every field if he wants to get seven or eight at-bats a day. We’ve got about 14 games, 15 days until opening day and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that he’ll go south with us.”