Former Baltimore Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis is one of 12 newcomers to Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame ballot for 2026.
Markakis enjoyed a 15-year career, spending nine seasons with the Orioles from 2006-14, and six seasons with the Atlanta Braves from 2015-20. He played in 2,154 games, racking up 33.7 wins above replacement along with 189 home runs and a.781 career OPS.
Markakis' natural position was right field, and he won three Gold Gloves, including a pair with the Orioles in 2011 and 2014. Aside from two postseason appearances, including an ALCS run in 2014 where they were swept by the Kansas City Royals, the Orioles routinely finished near the bottom of the American League standings during his tenure with the AL East organization.
Markakis' chances of selection to the HOF
Players on the Hall of Fame ballot need 75% of the vote for election, with 5% of the vote required to remain on the ballot the following year.
Additional first-timers on next year's ballot include pitchers Gio Gonzalez, Rick Porcello, and Cole Hamels. The position player list includes outfielders Ryan Braun, Shin-Soo Choo, Alex Gordon, Matt Kemp, and Hunter Pence, as well as infielders Howie Kendrick, Daniel Murphy, and Edwin Encarnacion.
With nearly 2,400 hits but just one All-Star appearance and little MVP consideration, Markakis may find himself off the Hall of Fame ballot after one to two years. The fans in Baltimore loved his style of play and reliability, just two of the many reasons the Orioles inducted him into their Hall of Fame last summer.
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