Braves OF Nick Markakis apologizes for comments about Orioles
Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis apologized for recent comments he made to USA Today about his former team, the Baltimore Orioles.
Markakis told USA Today, "Don't believe a word [the Orioles] say" when talking about his departure from Baltimore over the offseason. He signed a four-year, $44 million deal with the Braves in December, then underwent neck surgery.
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"Basically, [the reporter] asked me a question from somebody that said something in the front office and it was not even true and I just kind of spoke my mind at the time," Markakis said, according to MASN. "The bottom line is, I shouldn't have responded at all and I just wanted to clear things up and move on. My attention now is on the Braves and my teammates. What I did there [in Baltimore] is there."
Markakis said he was put "in a bad situation" and spoke his mind. He said after the article with his comments ran, he talked to Orioles outfielder Adam Jones and exchanged text messages with manager Buck Showalter as well.
"I just want to put it behind me and I apologize for what I did, but there's a reason why it came out of my mouth. I'm just tired of people thinking they know what happened," Markakis said.
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In 155 games in 2014, Markakis hit .276 with 14 home runs, 50 RBI and a .342 on-base percentage. He has a career .290 average and .358 on-base percentage with 141 home runs and 658 RBI.
- Molly Geary
