Young Heart Of the Orioles

Markakis, 24, Is Key To Rebuilding Job

BALTIMORE, March 30 -- On a bright morning during the final days of spring training, Baltimore Orioles Manager Dave Trembley sat in the comfortable shade of the dugout, his team on the field finishing warmups before a game. Trembley was answering questions about the state of his roster when he suddenly stopped, raised his voice and looked toward second base, his eyes fixed upon the player generally regarded as the future of the franchise.

"I talked to you about that yesterday, you knucklehead!" said Trembley, who once again caught Nick Markakis sneaking in to take ground balls in the infield. With that, the player known in the clubhouse as "Nicky" retreated abashedly to his post in right field, drawing a roar of laughter from his teammates, then from Trembley.

"He's still a kid," Trembley said with a smile.

Indeed, at 24, Markakis retains a childlike affinity for the game, unchanged by rising expectations. Two years after his arrival in Baltimore, he still regards the ability to have fun as the best part of his job. But the Orioles are very serious about Markakis's importance to the franchise.

"He's on the verge of being a superstar," veteran first baseman Kevin Millar said.

On Monday, the Orioles begin the 2008 season and the first full season of an overhaul that team president Andy MacPhail hopes will restore credibility to the once-proud franchise. Since the end of last season, the Orioles have made no secret of their desire to rebuild by acquiring young talent, parting ways with ace pitcher Erik Bedard and shortstop Miguel Tejada for a passel of prospects. Second baseman Brian Roberts could be next.

With the rebuilding still in its early stages, the Orioles have been left with a roster that, on paper, appears to be destined for a franchise-worst 11th straight losing season. Yet, with so many questions surrounding the Orioles, the understated Markakis is the cornerstone on which the team can build.

"Who wouldn't want to build around somebody of his ability?" Roberts said.

Entering his third season, Markakis already has established himself as one of the top defensive players in the American League. Offensively, his 39 home runs, 174 RBI and .296 batting average compare favorably to the numbers put up by Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken Jr. during their first two seasons. While Murray and Ripken showed more power, Markakis has stolen more bases and batted for a higher average.

Markakis continues to improve as a hitter, adding experience to his raw talent.

"He is now at a point in his career where he can go one or two strikes into the at-bat and still come out ahead," Orioles hitting coach Terry Crowley said.

But the Orioles' general misfortunes have kept Markakis under the national radar, and his introverted personality contributes to the lack of attention.