What Did He Say?

Nick Markakis, 22 yr. old rookie outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles, is making a statement.

Excluding AL scouting reports, it is unlikely to be heard beyond the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay.

In 2005, Markakis played 92 games for Class A Frederick, hitting .300 before being promoted to Class AA Bowie for their final 33 games. Markakis hit safely in 28 of 33 games in AA earning him the Orioles "Minor League Player of the Year" and an invitation to the Orioles spring training camp where he impressed enough to make the team.

Having only 33 games experience in facing AA level pitching, it was no surprise that Markakis was overmatched by AL pitching. The "Book" on Markakis said he couldn't handle the fastball on the inside corner. He couldn't. AL pitchers pounded it in there and Markakis watched or flailed.

He hit .182 in April.

Meanwhile, Terry Crowley, Orioles hitting instructor, had been crowing all along about Markakis patience at the plate (which he has) and about his aplomb at executing several of Crowley's "secret" hitting drills (of which we can never be certain). The confidence appears to be well founded.

In May, Markakis hit .254.
In June, .338.
So far in July, .467.

His season average stands at .272. He has not shown any power (8 2B, 2 HR), but he did have some pop in the minors and he's only 22, so he'll likely beef up over the next few years.

In just 3 months, with only 33 games of professional baseball at the AA level, Nick Markakis is forcing the AL to rewrite the "Book" on him. Many hitters never achieve that. If Markakis can survive the rewrite (which usually calls for plunking), the O's may well have a solid hitter in the lineup for years to come.