Nick Markakis is hanging up his spikes after a 15-year MLB career. The former Orioles outfielder told The Athletic on Friday that he is retiring from baseball. He said that he knew since after the 2020 postseason that he was leaning toward retirement and that he hadn’t seriously pursued any opportunities this offseason. Of his next step, Markakis said, “I’m gonna be a stay-at-home dad.”
The Orioles selected Markakis with the #7 pick in the 2003 draft, plucking him from the junior college ranks in Georgia. This was an uncommon decision back then and it hasn’t been any less rare since Markakis was drafted.