The Braves have activated outfielder Nick Markakis from the COVID-19 injured list and optioned fellow outfielder Cristian Pache, David O’Brien of The Athletic tweets.
Markakis is back after missing week of action because he may have come into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus. That interrupted an excellent start to the season for Markakis, who has slashed .353/.421/.616 in 38 plate appearances. He’ll now rejoin the just-reinstated Ronald Acuna Jr., Marcell Ozuna and Ender Inciarte as the Braves’ top outfield options.
Pache, whom the Braves promoted the same day Markakis landed on the IL, only totaled four plate appearances in his first major league experience. But as a 21-year-old who ranks among the sport’s premier prospects, it shouldn’t be long before Pache gets a legitimate chance to prove himself in the majors.
Markakis has had one of the most underrated careers in recent history. At least since I’ve been alive to witness. He’ll definitely be on a HOF ballot
Lmao
No you’re not.
Cool take worth saying!
Sure, it doesn’t take much to be a ballot
Yes, some baseball writer out there will put him on a ballot. Then he’ll fall off after the minimum required amount of time.
He has a legitimate chance at 3000 hits but people just write him off because it’s the popular take.
He needs 633 more and he’s a 36-year-old fourth outfielder. Especially with the shortened season this year, it seems like a huge stretch. He’d have to intentionally hang on past his prime in a super diminished role to do it (not that I’d blame him for doing so).
Maybe that one All Star game appearance will put him over the top.
If he hadn’t made that recent ASG he had a legit chance to be a 3000 hit guy who never made an ASG. Now that would be a weird case for the HoF. Losing most of this season will cost him a 100+ hits that may be irreplaceable at his age, unfortunately.
Seems like a waste of a option on Pache.
His career OPS+ is a whopping 10% above league average during his career. He’s been an All-Star exactly once, and received MVP votes in the same number of seasons. Maybe he’s one of the top 50 RFs of all time. Maybe he’s one of the top 50 hitters of his era…but none of that should get one even in the discussion for the HoF.
They wasted Pache’s time by bringing him up for a few days to do nothing.
I’d agree with you if it was more time and there was a minor-league season to be had, but it’s some intrasquad games. If nothing else, he got his feet wet enough to get the hoopla out of the way so he can focus the next time around.
Correct, ye was able to gain some invaluable experience at the highest level, and at a time where it likely feels like a race to the postseason.
Pache was able to show off his arm, but he also showed he still needs to be a bit more aggressive inside the K zone. He’s going to be a very solid everyday CF’er moving forward, but the Braves just have better options right now.
I will say Inciarte is not one of those better options, but Ozuna, Acuna Jr., Markakis, and Duvall have all been good to great this year.
Now, with Acuña Jr. and Markakis back to strengthen and lengthen their lineup, it should help the Braves tremendously towards their goal of winning the East again..
Hopefully, Anderson can prove to be ready; otherwise, the Braves will likely be one and done come playoff time. From a pitching standpoint, Fried and their bullpen cannot do it alone!!
What a waste bringing Pache up and what a shame sending him back down. What kind of opportunity for a top 10 overall prospect was that? Why bring up a guy of that caliber and now give him a shot? It’s not like the guys in front of him are crushing it!! Ender, Adams? What da heck …
Ender is an automatic out in the 9 hole anyway, at least Pache would be learning something and bring something to the table.
That’s my point… at worse… he performs just as bad as Ender … but let’s be honest, high caliber top prospects like him don’t come up and perform worse than Ender unless your Lewis Brinson
Inciarte likely wont see the field except for defensive purposes very often moving forward. They’ll have Ozuna to DH, then Kakes and Duvall manning the corners and Acuña Jr. in Center..
Pache would only be getting defensive assignments late in the game, or pinch running assignments. He will be getting in alot better instruction and work down at the B facility..
Let’s not even pretend for a second, for even as good as Pache as, he is a finished product. Pache has alot to work on currently, and yes it would be best to get him ABs and start him in CF, but the Braves currently have better options offensively..
Either way, it certainly wasn’t a waste, it should make Pache motivated and hungry, and that’s only a good thing..That’s the case, especially considering he is likely to be their starting CF’er next season…
Did anyone else see Pache’s throw from LF? Yes the guy was safe but man does Pache have a cannon and made that play A LOT closer then it should have been.
It shouldnt have even been remotely close…He showed why most scouts have graded him with one of the best OF arms they’ve seen in awhile..
He did show in LF he could still work some on his route running, but in CF he will immediately become one of the best defensive CF’ers instantly once he is plugged back in. Dude is already an 80 grade in CF..
Only SLIGHTLY off topic, Ian Anderson is pitching against the Yankees tonight. I’m terrified.
*Grabs baby blanket, warm milk bottle and shuts himself in closet with smart phone
Yeah, if he tries them with his flat fastball, and doesnt locate it properly, it could get ugly…And I mean real ugly, really quick.
All reports indicate though that he has translated to the ball alot better, with it being more slick, and he is currently pitching the best he has ever shown in the Braves system…
Soooo, here is to hoping he can at least give the Braves 5IP with 2 or fewer runs, if he does that I’d consider it a success. They’re desperate right now for their starters to give them some innings…And if not him, all they have left is Davidson and possibly Weigel, but if they were going to give the latter a shot you’d have to think they would have already done it by now..
I don’t disagree with you at all. They just don’t have enough options to not start Anderson. I would be delighted if he went 5 IP and 2 earned runs. Our bullpen has been the saving grace for the most part so getting the ball to them should be the goal.
I just couldn’t help but be a little humourous about it so there would be less tears. =}
Like others have said, it was a waste with what they did with Pache. Should have given him a look while Markakis was out and then go from there when he was ready to come back. Instead they kept throwing Ender out there, who can’t even get a bunt down.
I suggested in the last off-season that Atlanta should trade Ender for JBJ. Not that JBJ is any better (maybe he is this year), but you had two years left on his contract, and with Pache on the horizon, you’d have no place to play Ender.
I wonder if Atlanta would make the bold move of putting Ender on the market and promoting Pache now, instead of next year? If there is a tiny market for Pillar and JBJ, then there should be a market for Ender as well.
Well its only 365 hit from 3000. Hes only 36. So he has a chance at that. Not sure who else is close to 3000 hits.
Don’t think hes a hof.
The only active player closest to the HOF is Pujols. About to be tied for 4th all time home runs.
I may be missing someone
Aaron
Ruth
Mays
Griffey
Thome
Yeah, I dont think anyone has ever considered Markakis a top 5-10 player in the league any given year. He has just been ci consistently really good for a long period of time. I dont think that’s HOF worthy, but he has certainly had one heck of a career, and he has been an excellent addition ever since coming over as an Oriole..
Trout, Kershaw, and Verlander are also pretty much locks for the HOF as far as current players go..Maybe a couple others that I’m just not thinking of, and then you have some guys like Yadi that they will be interesting cases..
I meant as far as age. Close to hanging it up. You tbe closest to getting there first. Those guys are likes yes but other than verlander they have at least 10 years left. 6-8 years probably for Kershaw depending on his durability. Pujols is over 40
You probably misplaced a number somewhere, wrek. Markakis is 633 away from 3,000 hits. That makes it a bit more difficult but considering his consistency, he just might be able to make it. His 2018 and 2019 show that he is still a legit major leaguer who will probably still get 1 or 2 year deals.
If I were betting money, I would say Markakis doesn’t make the HOF but it will be interesting to see. I don’t know if anyone has ever achieved 3 thousand hits and WASN’T inducted into the HOF.
I don’t think he’ll reach 30,000 hits, and he won’t be in the HOF. He does belong in the HOVG, however. He’s essentially been a league-average player over his career (34 War in 14 years), and his leadership has been a big bonus for the Braves.
@bham. I don’t know. If he reaches 30,000 hits I think he will be proclaimed the God of baseball! =D
You’re right. Probably early in the morning‐ no spectacles either.
If he got 30k hits he would be snubbed a vote and get 99.99%
Pete Rose
Rafael Palmeiro.
My point was he’d be snubbed 1 vote since 1 person didn’t vote for Griffey Jr. He got in at like 99.32
Nothing interesting about it. Yadi is a lock.
forgot about yadi.
Would’ve pretty awesome to Pujols pass Hank Aaron for all time home runs though. 96 to go. He’d have to play 4 more years. But that’s still at least 24HRs a year
Miguel Cabrera is a HOF too.
I would have liked to see Pache get more playing time, but this brief promotion will be good for him. Just seeing how things are done at the MLB level will help him better prepare for the time he comes up permanently.