If you’re going to start a team around one young player, you could do a whole lot worse than choosing Baltimore right fielder Nick Markakis as your guy—not just because the guy can hit a little, but also because he embraces everything that comes with the cliché “franchise player” tag. To wit, Markakis has signed up for the annual MLB/Susan G. Komen For the Cure “Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer” initiative, serving as one of the panelists who chose an honorary bat girl for every game on Sunday.

Good dude, good cause. A few hours before he took the field against the Twins on Thursday night, Markakis answered a few of our questions.

On his family’s experience with cancer:
“Yeah, my mom had breast cancer when I was in college, in ’01 or ’02. I was a little younger—I realized the severity of it, but when you’re in college and you’re going through it, you try not to think about it as much. It’s just draining, seeing somebody go through it. So by doing this I’m showing my support and admiration for anybody who’s fighting [cancer].”

On the advice he’d give to anybody with a family member or friend stricken with cancer:
“Give your support and give your time. Try and help out in any way you can. Having people around definitely helps.”

On the state of the Orioles:
“We’re definitely moving in the right direction. That played a big part in me committing for six years here [he signed a six-year, $66 million contract extension in January]. [Team president of baseball operations] Andy MacPhail has done a great job bringing guys in—especially with drafting—and he has this team going in the right direction. You’re anxious for it to happen right away, but it takes time. It doesn’t happen overnight.”

On playing in the high-rise district that is the American League East:
“I wouldn’t say it’s intimidating. The beauty of this game, what’s awesome about it—you go out there every day. Any team can beat anybody else. It’s a long season and so much can happen.”

On super-prospect Matt Wieters:
“He’s a big kid. Switch-hitter. He understands the game. Great presence at the plate. Handles the pitchers well. What else can you ask for? It’s only a matter of time before he’s here.”

On the toughest pitcher he’s faced:
“The toughest pitcher or the guy I just can’t hit? (laughs) Toughest pitcher, I have to say A.J. Burnett. His stuff is above and beyond—that fastball and curveball, it’s not something you see very often. He’s a special pitcher and he’s getting better and better.”

On the other players who he’d pay to watch:
“Well, I gotta say Albert Pujols. But I always like watching the fast guys. Carl Crawford, Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez—those leadoff guys are always making something happen. It’s always fun to see them out on the field.”

On making his just-born son a baseball fan:
“I don’t think I have to worry about that. I’m sure he’s a baseball guy already. He’s got baseball clothes, a glove, a bat—it’s only a matter of time (laughs). I can’t wait until he gets to the age where he actually understands what I do, when he starts coming into the clubhouse and running out on the field. That day when he understands and knows what’s going on—that’s going to be fun.”