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Is Nick Markakis Ever Going To Hit A Braves’ HR?

By John Buhler

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Don’t get me wrong.  I loved the Nick Markakis signing by the Braves this offseason.  The Woodstock, GA native played an important role for the Baltimore Orioles the last several seasons.  With his ability to get on base, play errorless outfield, and lead by an example with his play on the field, Nick has been the perfect addition to the new-look Atlanta Braves.

-= Related: Nick Markakis’ Lack of Power a Non-Issue for Braves =-

There is one criticism of Markakis’ game in 2015: absolutely no power.  What do you and I and Nick Markakis all have in common?  We all have hit 0 home runs for the Braves this season.  I understand that Nick is coming back from neck surgery in the offseason similar to what Peyton Manning had done before joining the Denver Broncos.

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    • But during his time in Baltimore, Nick averaged 14.1 homers per year with the Orioles over ten seasons at Camden Yards.  So where has all the power gone?  Is Nick Markakis ever going to hit a home run as a member of the Braves?

    The obvious answer is yes, but when is it going to happen?  It’s almost July and I think I’ve seen maybe one fly ball of his go to the warning track.  Would I sacrifice all the other positive aspects of his game to see him go yard once?  No way!  I’ll take errorless play in rightfield, a .300 batting average, and a .391 on-base percentage every day of the season.

    It is pretty weird to see a guy with 141 career home runs go on a long ball drought like this.  I’ve come to terms that he’s not hitting 14 homers, or even 5 for that matter.  But is one long ball just too much to ask at this point?  His OBP of .391 is higher than his slugging percentage of .360.  That’s like an Omar Vizquel-level SLG.

    I wrote a piece earlier how his lack of power was a non-issue for the Braves, but that was over a month ago and Markakis still hasn’t gone yard.  He’s not a Rafael Belliard or Ben Revere at the plate.  The guy can flat-out hit and I love watching him work his craft in the batter’s box.  But with Freddie Freeman on the DL and Nick Markakis now batting in the three-hole, perhaps this is a great time for Markakis’ first Braves homer to occur.

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    Part of the reason I am writing this piece is to hopefully jinx this power drought so that Nick will go yard just once in the next few days.  I understand entirely why John Hart shunned power hitters with high strikeout totals in constructing the 2015 Atlanta Braves.  Last year was a nightmare for Braves Country.  And I get that with only 42 team home runs on the season, 12 belonging to the injured Freddie Freeman, that this Braves team isn’t built to go yard.  But is one measly homer just asking too much out of the veteran rightfielder?

    Frankly his lack of power this season is and will cost him a great chance at making his first MLB All-Star Game.  Nick is a fantastic player for the Atlanta Braves regardless of if he ever goes yard for his new team this year.  It will be everything but his power stroke that will keep the Braves relevant while Freddie’s on the DL.  Come on, Nick.  Hit one over Bryce Harper’s head tonight!

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