BALTIMORE -- Nick Markakis played like a major leaguer this
spring, and now he will get the opportunity to prove he can excel
for an entire season with the Baltimore Orioles.
Markakis survived the final cut Saturday and will be part of
Baltimore's 25-man roster on opening day. He has never played above
the Double-A level since the Orioles made him the seventh overall
pick in the 2003 amateur draft.
A year ago, Markakis opened the season with Class-A Frederick.
"That's part of going out there and playing hard every day. You
take it day by day and level by level," he said. "It's good to
come out here and work with these guys. I've had a lot of fun. Now
I'm looking forward to the season."
The 22-year-old Markakis capped a marvelous spring training by
going 3-for-4 Saturday in Baltimore's 8-4 victory over Washington.
The outfielder batted .358 and led the team with seven doubles.
"He played extremely well. He forced our hand," Orioles
manager Sam Perlozzo said. "I was impressed with everything he did
out there. He's a quick learner, handles the bat and has a great
knowledge of the strike zone. He's going to be a great asset to our
ballclub."
The Orioles shaved their roster to 25 by sending seven players
to the minors and placing pitchers Todd Williams (shoulder) and
John Parrish (elbow) on the 15-day disabled list.
Baltimore optioned catcher Eli Whiteside to Triple-A Ottawa and
reassigned six players: left-hander John Halama, catcher Brandon
Masters, right-handers Cory Morris, Tyler Yates and Eddy Rodriguez,
and infielder Eddie Rogers.
With Markakis on the roster, the Orioles will carry 11 pitchers.
The staff includes reliever Sendy Rleal, who, like Markakis, has
never played above Double-A.
"I'm not sure how comfortable we are right now (with the
pitching). We're going to see how it goes," Perlozzo said. "If it
comes down in the first week or so that they can't hold up their
end of the bargain, then we'll have to make another decision."
Markakis started spring training as a decided long shot to make
the team, even though he was named the Orioles' minor league player
of the year in 2005. But he never stopped hitting, and impressed
Perlozzo with his prowess in the outfield.
"Every organization at one time or another brings somebody up
from the minor leagues that hasn't played a lot down there,"
Perlozzo said. "They're special people. I think Nick is a special
person. He's earned a spot on this ballclub."
Baltimore will carry three catchers, including newcomer Raul
Chavez.