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Braves Analytics: Nick Markakis Just Keeps Hitting

By Trent Dickeson

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 5: Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves who had previously opted out of the 2020 MLB season looks on prior to the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Truist Park on August 5, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 5: Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves who had previously opted out of the 2020 MLB season looks on prior to the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Truist Park on August 5, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Nick Markakis has gotten off to a blistering hot start, but can he maintain his current pace?

Nick Markakis came to the Atlanta Braves in 2015 while the Braves were in the middle of a rebuild. Since coming to Atlanta, Nick has been a consistent fixture in Atlanta’s lineup.

So far in 2020, Nick Markakis has been a stud in the middle of the Braves lineup, slashing .344/.412/.557 with a .969 OPS, .413 wOBA, and a 159 wrc+. That’s a phenomenal start. Through his first 67 plate appearances, Markakis has 1 home run, 11 RBI, and has crossed the plate 9 times.

While Nick Markakis has been one of the better hitters for the Braves so far in 2020, can he sustain this torrid pace?

Let’s take a look at his career numbers to compare. Markakis has a career line of .289/.359/.425 with a career .783 OPS, .341 wOBA, and 109 wrc+.

This is a unique season for everyone involved, but it’s easy to see that in this shortened 2020 season, Nick Markakis is outpacing his career numbers.

What has changed?

One key to his current success is that Nick Markakis is hitting the ball harder than he has over the course of his career. For his career, Markakis has a barrel percentage of 2.5% and a hard-hit percentage of 39.3%. In 2020, those numbers have risen to 3.9% and 47.1%.

This shows that Markakis is hitting the ball harder than he has in previous years. This is important because hitting the ball harder often results in better results for the individual and the team.

Next, let’s take a look at “Kake’s” line drive percentage. Hitting a line drive is the optimal outcome over hitting too many ground balls or fly balls, so it can be an indicator of success at the plate.

For his career, Markakis has a 21.4% line drive rate, 45.8% ground ball rate, and a 32.8% fly ball rate. In 2020, these numbers are 31.4% line drive, 43.1% ground ball, and 25.5% fly ball.

Markakis is hitting more line drives in 2020. Ideally, it would be nice to see the ground ball percentage drop more and the fly ball rate normalize because hitting the ball on the ground isn’t the best in today’s game with the number of shifts and advanced defensive placement.

A 10% increase in line drive rate is usually going to result in better results. It’s safe to say that’s the case thus far for Markakis, despite the high ground ball percentage.

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