AP photo by Brynn Anderson / Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis, right, talks with assistant coach Sal Fasano during practice Sunday at Truist Park in Atlanta. Markakis has opted out of the 2020 season due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.ATLANTA – Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis opted out of the 2020 MLB season on Monday due to increased concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
Markakis is the team’s second veteran player in two days to announce plans to sit out the upcoming 60-game schedule. He follows right-handed pitcher Félix Hernández, the 2010 American League Cy Young Award winner with the Seattle Mariners who was competing for a rotation spot before opting out Sunday.
The 36-year-old Markakis said Monday he was already uneasy about playing the season without fans present at stadiums. He was further swayed by his telephone conversation with teammate Freddie Freeman, the star slugger and first baseman who has tested positive for COVID-19 and shown symptoms including fever.
“Just hearing him, the way he sounded on the phone, it was tough,” Markakis said. “It was kind of eye-opening. What everything that’s going on, not just with baseball but all over the world, it makes you open your eyes.”
Freeman, top setup man Will Smith, right-handed pitcher Touki Toussaint and infielder Pete Kozma tested positive for the coronavirus last week. Braves manager Brian Snitker said Saturday that Smith and Toussaint had shown no symptoms, while Kozma has had a fever.
Snitker said Monday the four continue to progress through the health protocol but explained it wouldn’t be fair to the players to provide more detailed daily updates.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher David Price, Washington Nationals infielder Ryan Zimmerman and Colorado Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond are among the other players who have opted out.
Braves first base coach Eric Young Sr. also will sit out the season. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the 53-year-old former player is in the high risk category, although the team did not disclose in what way.
AP photo / Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, left, celebrates with right fielder Nick Markakis after the team beat the Padres 4-1 on July 14, 2019, in San Diego.Snitker said he respected the decision by Markakis, calling him “an ultimate pro” but admitting losing the respected team leader is a blow to Atlanta’s hopes for winning a third straight National League East Division title.
“We’ll miss him,” Snitker said. “He’s one of our backbones of our club. I know he’s been thinking long and hard about it. … When you lose a guy of that stature and what he brings and the player he is, it doesn’t help you, that’s for sure.”
Snitker, 64, acknowledged he also has concerns about his health during the pandemic. MLB’s 30 teams are training at their home facilities before starting the season July 23 or 24.
“Honestly, yeah,” Snitker said. “I feel great right here. I think I’ll be fine these three weeks. The traveling worries me more than anything, I think. … The fact we’ve had some positive tests makes you realize this is real. This virus is real, and it’s nothing to mess with.”
Markakis has three children. He said he has the “overwhelming support” of his family in his decision to miss a season he said wouldn’t have been the same without fans.
“I’m at the point in my career where I’m not chasing the money,” he said. “I’m not chasing any of that. … This game is about having fun, and having to go out there and play in an environment without fans, it’s not baseball to me.”
After nine seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Markakis was entering his sixth season with Atlanta. He was competing for playing time in a crowded outfield after the offseason signing of former St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Marcell Ozuna.
Snitker plans to play Ozuna and Ronald Acuña Jr. every game, though Ozuna could be the designated hitter. Markakis, Adam Duvall and Ender Inciarte were joined by rookies Cristian Pache and Drew Waters in the outfield competition.
Markakis hit .285 with nine home runs and 62 RBIs in 2019, a year after he was an MLB All-Star. He said he doesn’t know how opting out could affect his hopes for playing in 2021.
“We’ll see,” Markakis said. “I want to see how this year plays out.”