LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.—Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said the team still is hopeful that new right fielder Nick Markakis will be in the opening day lineup but it's "not set in stone" he'll be ready.
Markakis had fusion surgery on Dec. 17 to repair a herniated disk in his neck. He was medically cleared for physical activity about a week before the Braves opened spring camp and has yet to play in a game.
“The neck is fine,” Gonzalez said. “He hasn’t done anything because they wanted that neck to heal. We’ve got to get his legs in shape. He’s playing catch. He’s progressing every day. Don’t know date when he will be able to take swings. You’d hate to have this guy get his neck ready and run him out there and all of a sudden he hurts himself.”
The Braves signed Markakis to a four-year, $44 million free-agent contract on Dec. 3. He will replace Jason Heyward in right field after Heyward was traded to the Cardinals in November.
Markakis played all nine of his previous big-league seasons with the Orioles. He’s a product of Woodstock High and Young Harris College.
