JUPITER, Fla. – Braves right fielder Nick Markakis made a big step toward returning Friday when he took batting practice on the field for the first time since December neck surgery.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez watched the 10 a.m. session at Champion Stadium in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and came away encouraged, so much so that he still believes the veteran could be ready for the April 6 opener at Miami.
“We’re shooting for opening day,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t know the timetable when he’s going to be ready (to play in Grapefruit League games), but he looked good.”
Markakis will take coach-pitch batting practice again Saturday with players who stayed back at Lake Buena Vista for a split-squad game against the Nationals (Gonzalez was with the rest of the Braves in Jupiter for games Friday night against the Marlins and a split-squad Saturday vs. the Cardinals).
Once Markakis is cleared to play spring-training games, he will likely play almost every day. That’s how he wants it.
“As far as health-wise, he’s good to go,” Gonzalez said. “He told me, ‘I don’t care how many road trips I make, I don’t care where we go, whenever they tell me (he can play), play me.’ I said, OK.”
Gonzalez said if Markakis doesn’t have time to get enough at-bats in Grapefruit League games, he could go to the minor league camp and lead off every inning in one or more minor league games at a time as opening day nears. Gonzalez asked him how he felt after finishing his rounds of batting practice Friday.
“He said ‘I feel great, (but) I feel like it’s the first day of BP,’” Gonzalez said. “Timing wasn’t there, but he felt great, and so tomorrow he’ll do it again.”
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