At the beginning of Major League Baseball's shortened season, outfielder Nick Markakis made the decision to opt out due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
It wasn't until a few weeks ago that Markakis had a change of heart and decided to rejoin his team. Since being activated on Aug. 5, he has made a huge impact for the Braves hitting .323 with a .912 OPS in the 11 games he's played.
On Sunday, Braves led the team to a 4-0 win over the Miami Marlins after his three RBI day.
How much of a welcome edition has Markakis been, once again, to this Braves team.
"You can't imagine where they'd be without him," Braves sideline reporter Kelly Crull told the Midday Show on 92.9 The Game.
"It's so much more than just what Nick Markakis brings from a production standpoint, right? It's the veteran leadership and just by example, the way he goes about his business; what he means to the guys around him by just being there, his presence."
Manager Brian Snitker called Markakis his 'security blanket' saying he's a guy who is always there and ready to perform any task at his very best.
"You've got a manager like Snitker saying that about a player, that's all you need to hear."