masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgAfter spending the day at his home in Baltimore County, Nick Markakis drove to his former baseball home today – Camden Yards. After nine years as an Oriole, tonight he’ll take right field in the last of the first inning and play against the Orioles.
“Mixed emotions,” he said in the Braves dugout. “It probably won’t hit me all until game time standing out in right field in a Braves uniform. I spent nine years here. This was the team that drafted me. To be gone after so many years, it’s…

After spending the day at his home in Baltimore County, Nick Markakis drove to his former baseball home today – Camden Yards. After nine years as an Oriole, tonight he’ll take right field in the last of the first inning and play against the Orioles.

“Mixed emotions,” he said in the Braves dugout. “It probably won’t hit me all until game time standing out in right field in a Braves uniform. I spent nine years here. This was the team that drafted me. To be gone after so many years, it’s definitely different. But I’m in a good place now. I have great teammates and a great organization and am happy where I am now.”

nick markakis braves opacy.jpgMarkakis was asked what was the best thing about being an Oriole?

“The fans. The reason we play this game is for the fans. Ultimately, we wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for the fans. The fans of Baltimore have always been great to me and my family. I think that is the one thing I miss the most. The fans and atmosphere.

“They’re coming to watch the Orioles and Braves play and are paying money to watch. They can boo me or cheer me. We’ll see what happens,” he said.

After 1,365 games with the Orioles, Markakis signed a four-year, $44 million deal with Atlanta on December 3. An offseason that began with promise he would re-sign with Baltimore took a turn.

“Anything can happen,” he said. “Early in my career I saw a lot of people coming and going and you know, you just never thought one day it would be you. It’s a business, and I understand the business aspect of baseball now. It’s a tough thing to go through. It was a little hard at first and took a little time to get over.”

Has Markakis noticed the Orioles have struggled to adequately replace him?

“It’s not my problem anymore, right? What I did here is play the game the right way, and I left everything out on the field for this organization when I was here. That is what I am doing over here in Atlanta.”

Markakis said he will continue to make his home in the Baltimore area.

“Yeah, this is where we had our kids. Kids go to school here. We have great support in the community. We have a lot of friends here and love everything about it,” he said.

Markakis said he hoped fans remembered him as someone that “played the game the right way and came to work every day to help the team win.”

As for the current Orioles, he said, “I don’t want them to fail. I’m pulling for them. Friends go a long ways past the game. I want them to have good careers and finish up strong in those careers.”