Atlanta Braves Nick Markakis Leads National League in Hits
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Braves have the National League hits leader in Nick Markakis. Nick has piled up 56 early season hits the best mark in the National League. He is tied for first in hits in all of baseball.
Nick Markakis and Ozzie Albies have been the two most surprising storylines of the Atlanta Braves early start. Watching Nick Markakis play for the Braves this season, he has brought more consistency than any other season he has been in Atlanta.
His 56 hits are easily the best in the National League. The next closest player has 53, Freddie Freeman falls in at 51 not far behind Markakis.
Watching Markakis his approach at the plate has been better this season. He is focusing on working counts and putting the ball in play. While these things may seem simplistic often last season he struggled to do both of these things.
Working counts often resulted in poor swings for Markakis. This season that isn’t the case he seems to have a much better approach resulting in more contact.
Markakis isn’t the only Brave to lead Major League Baseball in a hitting category. Ozzie Albies leads baseball in XBH’s he has 30 of them only Mookie Betts has as many, Francisco Lindor, the next closest hitter is at 26.
The fact Ozzie Albies is tied with the likes of Mookie Betts tells you just how good the young second baseman has been.
Albies and Markakis are setting the tone for the rest of the lineup. Markakis has always had a consistent veteran leadership. But, he has never had the eye-popping stats to back up the way he carries himself.
Watching him have well-earned success has been fun both for the clubhouse and the team’s fans. The Braves need Markakis to continue to protect Freddie Freeman and pile up the hits.
Markakis is in the final year of his contract. A final chance to earn a big payday for a player who is well deserving of a big contract in 2019.