Markakis was touted as a one of the better young hitters in the game. It's easy to forget now.
Kinda funny actually.
He was #65 according to BA in 2005 behind names like Delmon Young (#3), Ian Stewart (#4), Joel Guzman (#5), Casey Kotchman (#6), Andy Marte (#9), Lastings Milledge (#11), Dallas McPherson (#12), Jeff Francoeur (#14), Jason Kubel (#17), Jeremy Hermida (#18), Brian Dopriak (#21), Nick Swisher (#24), Chris Nelson (#26), J. J. Hardy (#28), Felix Pie (#31), Daric Barton (#32), Jeremy Reed (#33), Eric Duncan (#36), Brian Anderson (#37), Erick Aybar (#39), Michael Aubrey (#41), Ryan Sweeney (#42), Josh Barfield (#45), Franklin Gutierrez (#54), Chris Burke (#60), Sergio Santos (#61), James Loney (#62), and Aaron Hill (#64).
Talk about a class that busted...wow. The only hitters that were ranked higher than Markakis that year that turned into much were Joe Mauer (#1), Rickie Weeks (#8), Hanley Ramirez (#10), Prince Fielder (#15), Carlos Quentin (#22), Ryan Howard (#27), Brian McCann (#44), Edwin Encarnacion (#56), and Curtis Granderson (#57). Certainly not a terrible class overall, but just another example of why being a Top 100 (or higher) guy doesn't necessarily make you a future "star".