The Atlanta Braves’ Nick Markakis has been quietly having an immediate, productive, and positive impact on this young Braves squad. If you saw the Monday night tilt in Baltimore last week, you would have seen why.

In Markakis’ first at bat since leaving the Orioles, the team he spent his first 9 seasons with, you would have seen just how much of an impression he left. This impression goes well beyond the numbers he puts up. Baltimore fans loved him and respected him.

If you didn’t know about Nick Markakis before he arrived in Atlanta, you sure got a glimpse Monday night. A touching video tribute played in the middle of the second inning in Baltimore last Monday night, offering a warm thank you to Markakis. The video didn’t just capture his on field highlights. It also focused on his charitable work in the community.

Prior to being signed by the Atlanta Braves in this past off-season, there were many in Braves Country who may not have known a lot about Markakis. The benefit of me living a short drive from Oriole Park at Camden Yards the last 2 years, gave me an opportunity to witness his ability and most importantly, his character.

When he signed with the Braves, there were some grumblings. Mostly fueled by the all too recent departure of fan favorite and Georgia native, Jason Heyward. Not a lot of folks seemed to be in favor with the 4 year, $44MM deal Markakis and the Braves agreed to.

I however, was ecstatic! I watched Markakis play for two years in Baltimore. I loved his make up and loved how he played the game. His leaving from the Orioles left a sour taste in the mouth of the Baltimore faithful, but that was more of the Front Office and GM Dan Duquette’s doing.

I like to apply the eye test to some of the things I observe in the game, and don’t really get worked up over what someone looks like on paper. Players don’t play on paper, they play between the lines. To me, Nick Markakis embodies what a professional, Major League player should look like, to hell with paper.

During the Saturday night broadcast this weekend, while the Braves were in Philadelphia, a point was brought to my attention. I want to give you a look at Nick Markakis’s numbers this season. The season he has put together is quite astonishing if you think about it. I just want to give a little perspective of what this man has been able to do with no off-season. He had no real time in Spring Training, and still has managed to maintain the consistency he has had throughout the season.

I know his power has been significantly diminished this year, but that is a sole, direct effect of his neck fusion surgery and not having a proper off-season. But let’s look a little deeper.

In 395 at bats this season, Nick has 115 hits. That’s good for number one on the team. Behind A.J. Pierzynski with players totaling more than 100 plate appearances; he sports a .291 batting average, good for second on the team. Part of those 115 hits, are 23 doubles, tops on the team.

How about the team leader for OBP? With a .371 OPB, that would be Nick Markakis as well. Want another category where he leads the team? Look at walks. Nick is tops again with 48 of them. Nick is in the top five on the team in runs scored (3rd) with 45 and fifth in RBIs with 33.

You might as well throw in games played too. Markakis has only missed two … wait, that can’t be right can it? For a guy who had off-season neck fusion surgery, he’s missed only TWO games? Yeah, he has. You want consistency, durability, and commitment? Look no further than Nick Markakis.

His power will return. Over the last 5 seasons, his 162 game average puts him at 16 home runs. But players shouldn’t be judged by the amount of home runs they hit. All-Around production is far more telling of a players ability. Home runs are nice, sure. However, I prefer someone who puts the ball in play and forces the defense to make plays. Markakis does that.

The standing ovation he received in Baltimore last week should have been a sign to Braves fans; we got a good one.

Nick Markakis is also just as dependable in the field. Some were speculative of this part of his game when he came over as well.

Jason Heyward left Atlanta after just having won his second Gold Glove. Markakis came to Atlanta after winning his second Gold Glove as well. The only difference … Heyward’s were back to back. Nick’s no slouch though.

He set the Major League mark earlier in the year by completing 398 consecutive games without an error. He’s pretty good with the leather. Committing only one error in the last 2 and a half seasons, that’s pretty good for Joe Jackson. He’s a fundamentally sound player, who doesn’t make mistakes. If he does, it’s only once.

Atlanta is getting exactly what they wanted and needed out of Nick Markakis in his first season with the Braves. All this with barely a Spring Training and no off-season workouts. No chance to build his strength, endurance, nor anything else players do to prepare for 162 games. His top potential, at 100% health, has yet to be seen in the short time Nick has donned a Braves uniform.

Say what you want, but I think Nick Markakis is just the right man to be the veteran voice, leader, and presence they brought him in to be. Just imagine what he could do for this team after a full off-season, with strength, conditioning, and endurance workouts. He’s done everything the Braves have expected, and you can’t complain about that.