First there was Rick Ankiel, the pitcher. One who as a rookie in 2000 won 11 games and had 194 strikeouts in 175 innings. Then out of nowhere, Tony LaRussa picked him to start the NLDS against the Braves that year. In that game, he threw 5 wild pitches in one inning, tying a 110 year old record. He added four more wild pitches in the postseason for a grand total of 9. He made the Cardinals again in 2001 out of spring training and made 6 starts for them being sent to the minors. He didn’t pitch at all in 2002 due to an elbow sprain. In 2003, he started out in the minors and tore a ligament in his elbow missing the season.He made it back to the Cardinals in 2004 and had a 5.40 ERA in 10 relief appearances. However in winter ball, he felt something funny in his elbow and decided he was moving to the outfield.
So that now brings us to Ankiel, the outfielder. He started out the 2005 season in Double-A Springfield and Single-A Quad Cities where he hit .259 with 21 homers and 75 RBIs in 85 games. He spent the 2006 season on the disabled list after he injured his knee in an intrasquad game. This year he was invited to spring training again but really didn’t have a chance to make the team. So they sent him down to Triple-A Memphis where all he did was hit .267 with 32 homers and 89 RBIs. He is the current leader in home runs in the Pacific Coast League.
With all that background now on the career of Ankiel, the Cardinals have called him back up to the big leagues where he will start tonight and bat 2nd against the San Diego Padres. He’s had a long road back to the big leagues but i think it will be a great story if he ends up having success as an outfielder in this go around with the Cardinals.
