There’s a familiar face in the Braves clubhouse this weekend in Miami: Sidelined outfielder Nick Markakis.
When the veteran was placed on the injured list with a fractured wrist, he vowed to stay around his teammates. A doctor’s appointment prevented him from traveling to Minnesota earlier this week, but Markakis joined his teammates in Florida.
“It’s tough to be away from the guys,” Markakis said. “It’s tough to watch baseball on TV when that’s all you’ve done your whole life. I’d rather be at the games supporting them here. There’s not much else I can do besides support right now. Any way I can help out and be here for these guys – these guys are my teammates, we’re here for each other – I’ll travel as much as I can.”
Markakis was an every-day presence in the Braves’ lineup. He’s since been replaced by Adam Duvall whose hot start helped the team during a road trip in Philadelphia and Washington. Duvall has been in a rut since, collecting three hits in his last 27 at-bats.
The 35-year-old Markakis will spend time in the bullpen, taking in the game from a different perspective and talking with the team’s bevy of pitchers. He saw it as an opportunity to spend time with other teammates and watch the game in a quieter place.
As for his rehab, Markakis reiterated the six-to-eight-week timetable the Braves gave upon the diagnosis. He didn’t do much activity during the first week of his IL stint, but Markakis has since been working out adamantly, trying to stay in shape so he can be ahead of schedule.
“The (return) goal would be awesome to be mid-September,” he said. “It could be sooner, could be later. It’s hard to tell how it’s healing. All I can say is we’re staying on top of it and we’re trying to heal it up as quick as we can. But it’s a bone issue. Your body is going to take care of it itself. It’s just a matter of how quick.”
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