Just one month ago, veteran Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis surprised many by announcing that he would not take part in the 2020 MLB season due to concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Well, after changing his mind a week ago and re-joining the Braves, the 36-year-old outfielder made his first start of the season on Thursday night against the Toronto Blue Jays and returned in a magical fashion, hitting a walk-off solo home run to propel his team to their ninth victory of the season.
Markakis made his first appearance of the season the previous night, making an eighth-inning pinch-hit appearance that ended without a hit.
After starting in left field on Thursday night, Markakis lined out, struck out, and grounded out before stepping up to the plate in a tied 3-3 game with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning against Toronto reliever Wilmer Font.
Font attempted to throw a breaking ball down and in to the veteran hitter, but Markakis was ready for the pitch and golfed it into the empty left field bleacher seats at Truist Park, sending his teammates into a frenzy.
The win moved the Braves’ record to 9-5 and propelled them to a 2 of 3 series win against the Jays.
