Braves' Markakis Talks To Freeman, Decides To Sit Out Season

ATLANTA, GA — After seeing four Atlanta Braves test positive for the coronavirus — with Freddie Freeman reportedly hit “like a ton of bricks” — outfielder Nick Markakis announced Monday he will sit out the season. The announcement was reported by numerous sports news outlets.

Markakis is the second Brave to opt out. Pitcher Felix Hernandez announced Saturday he won't play this season either.

Markakis told ESPN that he made up his mind after talking on the phone with Freeman.

"Just hearing him, the way he sounded on the phone, it was tough,'' Markakis said Monday to ESPN. "It was kind of eye-opening. With everything that's going on, not just with baseball but all over the world, it makes you open your eyes.''

Freeman, the Braves’ biggest star — who “literally never gets sick,” according to his wife, Chelsea — came down with symptoms Thursday that hit him "like a ton of bricks."

“He has had body aches, headaches, chills and a high fever,” Chelsea Freeman posted Saturday on Instagram.

“We’ve been really strict for the last 4 months,” she added. “Haven’t gone to the grocery store, haven’t gone out to dinner once, haven’t seen our friends and only allowed family at our house and we still got it.”

Chelsea later tweeted: “Please know that this virus is real and if Freddie can get it, anyone can too.”

In addition to Freeman, Braves pitcher Touki Toussaint, infielder Pete Kozma and relief pitcher Will Smith tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

While Freeman is the team's biggest star so far to contract COVID-19, the Braves’ problems parallel those experienced by other baseball teams preparing for a season shortened by the pandemic.

According to CBS Sports, at least 40 Major League Baseball players and staff thus far have tested positive in the run-up to an abbreviated season set to start July 23. David Price of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals are among nine players who’ve already announced they will sit out the season.

Please know that this virus is real and if Freddie can get it, anyone else can too. Be careful, wear a mask in public and wash your hands frequently. Thank you all for the messages and prayers... pic.twitter.com/4hhuRCZrSH
— Chelsea Freeman (@chelseafree5) July 4, 2020

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