Nick Markakis hadn’t played in left field since 2006, but the veteran was in left field Friday for the Braves at venerable Fenway Park and will play the position for all three games in the weekend series against the Red Sox, manager Brian Snitker said.
Rather than have rookie Ronald Acuna deal with the unique caroms of fly balls that bang against the 37-foot tall “Green Monster” wall in left field, Snitker thought it best to have Acuna swap spots for the series with Markakis, 34, who played his first nine seasons for Baltimore in the American League East.
“Just because he’s experienced it before, he’s played there with the Orioles,” Snitker said. “The whole outfield here is a little bit tricky, but with his experience there and Ronald being so young.”
Snitker made it clear that Markakis would move back to right field and Acuna to left after the weekend series.
Markakis played 26 games in left field as a rookie in 2006, including a few games in Boston. He had no objections to the switch with Acuna, 20, who played some at all the outfield positions in the minor leagues.
Other than 10 games as designated hitter and one at first base, Markakis had played exclusively right field during his four seasons with the Braves before Friday.
“I was worried about – you don’t know with Ronald, you don’t want him chasing balls (that take unusual angles coming off the wall) or whatever,” Snitker said. “Nick said he didn’t have a preference, he said, ‘I did it with Baltimore.’
“It’s not real easy. That right-field corner is not real easy either. But (Markakis) was like, ‘Shoot, yeah I’ll do it.’”
