Fansided

These 5 guys should absolutely be first time All-Stars

By Joshua Sadlock

DENVER, CO - APRIL 08: Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves circles the bases after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 8, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 08: Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves circles the bases after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 8, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 10: Atlanta Braves Right field Nick Markakis (22) looks on during a MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 10, 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 10: Atlanta Braves Right field Nick Markakis (22) looks on during a MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 10, 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Nick Markakis, Atlanta Braves

The elder statesman of this group, Atlanta Braves right fielder Nick Markakis has had a long and consistent career, but never a year like this one. The 34-year-old, who was the best player on some very awful Baltimore Orioles teams has never been an All-Star despite posting a run of four straight 40-double seasons from 2007 to 2010. Markakis has never been flashy, but if he wasn’t an All-Star during that run, where he hit .299/.371/.466, it seemed highly unlikely he would ever receive the honor.

The aging curve never really caught up with Markakis as he entered his thirties. Sure, the power numbers dropped, but he remained a solid contact hitter with a professional approach at the plate. The Georgia native went home to Atlanta after the Orioles low-balled him in on a contract offer and hit a perfectly respectable .280/.357/.386 the first three years of his deal while playing 160 games a year.

Markakis has exploded this year as the Braves lineup takes it to the rest of the league. He is hitting .328/.388/.493 and leads the NL with 88 hits and 20 doubles. Markakis also has eight home runs and 44 RBI. This will earn him an All-Star nod, even if there are right fielders having slightly better years. He will have plenty of company in Washington, including fellow ASG rookie Ozzie Albies, who leads the vote at second base (over Cubs second baseman Javy Baez, another potential first-time All-Star).

For years, Markakis qualified as the best player without an All-Star selection. That will end this year, and at the age of 34, it’s not out of the question that he makes a run at 3,000 hits. Markakis is currently sitting at 2,140 and shows no signs of slowing down.

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