Rick Ankiel

At 45 years old, Rick Ankiel physical status not available right now. We will update Rick Ankiel's height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, and measurements.

Richard Alexander Ankiel (born July 19, 1979) is an American former professional baseball center fielder and pitcher.

From 1999 to 2013, Ankiel was a member of the San Francisco Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, and New York Mets. Ankiel was a pitcher for the Cardinals from 1999 to 2001, when he found himself unable to throw strikes consistently.

He went to the outfield in early 2005 after trying to regained his pitching form in the minor leagues and briefly returning to the majors for a brief period of time in 2004.

He honed his abilities as a hitter and fielder in the Cardinals' minor-league system for two and a half years.

On August 9, 2007, he returned to the Cardinals.

Ankiel was outfielder and two as a pitcher before being a Cardinal, with 47 home runs as an outfielder and two as a pitcher.

Ankiel became a free agent after the 2009 season.

He was signed by the Royals and later traded to the Braves. Ankiel became the first player since Babe Ruth to win at least ten games as a pitcher and also scored at least 50 home runs.

In addition, Ankiel is the only player other than Ruth to start a postseason game as a pitcher and hit a home run in the postseason as a position player.

Ankiel's playing history suggests he will return to Major League Baseball in 2019 as a relief pitcher, as shown by journalist Barry Petchesky on Twitter on August 7, 2018.

"When you take a look at baseball, the game has swung back to my style of pitching," he said.

"We're talking about the big curveballs, the fastballs are up, so I feel like why not to come back as a lefty reliever and insert one more chapter."

Personal life

Ankiel and his partner, Lory, live in Jupiter, Florida. They have two sons. He appears on Cardinals television broadcasts regularly.

Source

Early career

Ankiel was voted High School Player of the Year by USA Today in 1997 after his senior season at Port St. Lucie High School in Florida, where he went 11–1 with a 0.47 earned run average (ERA) during his sophomore season, striking out 162 batters in 74 innings pitched.

In the second round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft, the St. Louis Cardinals selected Ankiel. He was given a $2.5 million signing bonus. He was voted the best pitching prospect in both the Carolina and Midwest Leagues in 1998, and the Carolina League's All-Star starting pitcher, Baseball America's first-team Minor League All-Star starting pitcher, and the Cardinals' Minor League Player of the Year. He led all minor league pitchers in strikeouts with 222.

Both Baseball America and USA Today selected Ankiel as the Year's Minor League Player of the Year in 1999. He was also a Texas League All-Star starting pitcher, Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year, and the National League All-Star All-Star starting pitcher.

Major league career

Ankiel made his debut in 1999 in Montréal, against the Expos. In 2000, he played in his first full season (second youngest player in the league), posting an 11–7 record, a 3.50 ERA, and 194 strikeouts (seventh in the league) in 30 games. Ankiel's main strikeout pitch was a 94-to-97-mph fastball, a big sinker, and a fall-off-the-table curveball. He struck out batters at a rate of 9.98 strikeouts per nine innings (second in the National League only to Randy Johnson) and allowed only 7.05 hits per nine innings (second only to Chan Ho Park). In the NL Rookie of the Year poll, he came in second (to Rafael Furcal of Atlanta) and second (to Rafael Furcal of the Atlanta Braves) in second place. He has been named Rookie Pitcher of the Year by the Sporting News.

In 2000, the Cardinals captured the National League Central Division championship. Ankiel and Darryl Kile were the only fully healthy starters on the roster after injuries to other pitchers. Tony La Russa of the Cardinals has selected Ankiel to begin Game One of the National League Division Series against veteran pitcher Greg Maddux of the Braves. La Russa had Kile answer questions to the media as if to start Game One and then alerted the world that Ankiel was starting.

Ankiel did not allow a run in Game One of Game One. In the third, his results plunged. He allowed four runs on two hits, four walks, and toss five wild pitches before being dismissed with two outs. Despite facing eight batters and throwing 35 pitches, the Cardinals won the game. Ankiel shrugged off the competition, boasting that he was the first pitcher to throw five wild pitches in a baseball game since Bert Cunningham of the Players' League in 1890.

Ankiel was forced to leave in the first inning after throwing 20 pitches, five of which went into catcher Eli Marrero (only five were legitimate wild pitches), and the first of which went straight over Mets' hitter Timo Perez's head. In Game Five's seventh inning, Ankiel appeared again, walking two out of bounds, and throwing two more wild pitches. The Cardinals lost the series four games to the Mets one out of a row.

Ankiel's cause of Ankiel's difficulties were uncertain, and his loss of sight, often referred to as "the yips," has been compared to Steve Blass', who was unable to throw strikes for unknown reasons. Ankiel's meteoric rise to the big leagues and loss of control as a pitcher in 2000–2001, as a manager. According to LaRussa, bringing Ankiel into Game One of the 2000 NLDS was "a call that may haunt him more than any he has ever made."

Ankiel returned to the majors in 2001, but he had trouble controlling his pitches, walking 25 batters, and tossing five wild pitches in 24 innings, losing the team to Triple-A. His teenage problems became severe. Ankiel walked 17 batters and threw 12 wild pitches in 4-13 innings, accumulating a 20.77 ERA. He was demoted to the Rookie League Johnson City Cardinals, where he excelled as both a starting pitcher and a part-time designated hitter (with a.638 slugging percentage and 35 RBIs in 105 at-bats). He was named Rookie Level Player of the Year, Appalachian League Right-Wing Pitcher of the Year, and Appalachian League All-Star starting pitcher, Appalachian League Pitcher of the Year, and Appalachian League All-Star designated hitter.

Ankiel did not return from the season in 2002 due to a left elbow sprain, and was not allowed to throw until December. In 2003, he returned to the minors for a 6.29 average in ten starts before recovering from season-ending ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (Tommy John surgery) for his left elbow. He walked 49 batters and threw ten wild pitches in 54+13 innings.

In five relief appearances, Ankiel returned to the majors in September 2004 with a 5.40 ERA. Ankiel's control issues seemed to be solved, as he walked just one out of nine wickets when striking out nine in ten innings. He walked only two batters in 23+2/3 innings in the minors, while striking out 23 runs. However, Ankiel announced on March 9, 2005, after a successful winter pitching in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League, he was moving to the outfield after a spring training game in which he threw only three strikes out of 20 pitches. He slugged.514 in Single-A and.515 in Double-A, with 5 outfield assists in 55 games.

Ankiel was welcomed by the Cardinals in 2006 as an outfielder with a slim chance to make the team as a reserve player. His fielding captivated scouts and managers, and he had seen glimpses of power in the minor leagues. However, he suffered his left knee before the season began, and he underwent season-ending surgery on May 26.

Ankiel was invited to the Cardinals' 2007 spring workouts and the Redbirds' Triple-A Memphis Redbirds began the season. In a game against the Round Rock Express on May 28, 2007, he struck two home runs. In deep center field, he had a double and made an over-the-shoulder catch, saving two runs.

For the 2007 Triple-A All-Star Game, Ankiel was named as a starting outfielder. He had 32 home runs, 89 RBIs, and was hitting.267, with a three-home run against the Iowa Cubs on June 16. He was the home run king in the Pacific Coast League and ranked second in RBIs and tied for second. Ankiel had seven errors in 95 games, defensively.

Since Scott Spiezio's departure from Memphis, the Cardinals promoted Ankiel from Memphis on August 9, 2007. Ankiel batted second and played right field in his first game. In his first at bat, he received a standing ovation from the St. Louis crowd. He hit a three-run home run off Doug Brocail to right field during the Cardinals' 5–0 victory over the San Diego Padres. It was his first home run in the majors since April 2000 (as a pitcher), making him the first player since Clint Hartung (1947) to reach his first major league home run as a pitcher and then as a position player. Babe Ruth was the player before Hartung, who made this happen. Tony La Russa said after the game that this was his only good moment as a Cardinal was when they won the 2006 World Series. On August 11, Ankiel received three standing ovations against the Dodgers two days later. He had three hits, including two home runs and three RBIs, as well as a spectacular catch in right field.

Ankiel's revival inspired syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer to write on August 17, 2007.

On August 31, Ankiel won by 5–3 over right-hander Eddie Guardado of the Cincinnati Reds, breaking a tie for the most major titles won by a Cardinals manager in St. Louis. On September 6, he scored his second home run game of the season, as well as an over-the-shoulder catch in deep right field. Ankiel won the last Sunday Night Baseball game of the season on September 23, after hitting a two-run triple and losing by 4–3.

Ankiel finished the year with a.285 batting average, 11 home runs, 39 RBIs, a.328 on-base percentage,.535 slugging percentage, and an.863 OPS in 47 games and 172 at-bats. The Cardinals, who had won division titles from 2004-2006 and the 2006 World Series, failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2007.

Following the season, Ankiel admitted to using human growth hormone (HGH), but said he was following the doctor's instructions. Before 2005, HGH was not banned by Major League Baseball. Ankiel was found not guilty of any wrongdoing by Major League Baseball, with no evidence of any wrongdoing.

On May 6, Ankiel led the Cardinals to a 6-5 victory over Colorado Rockies with two outfield assists and a home run. On the fly, Ankiel, with two assists, threw the ball from deep center field to Troy Glaus at third. He retired 2008 with a.264 batting average, 25 home runs, and 71 runs batted in.

In spring training, Ankiel was the Cardinals' top hitter, but the season was tough at the plate. Ankiel collided with the outfield wall during a May 4 game against the Philadelphia Phillies and was suspended from the field. Ankiel was placed on the disabled list on May 7 after the whiplash was confirmed as whiplash, and the accident was confirmed as whiplash. On May 24, he was re-activated. Ankiel was platooned with Colby Rasmus for the majority of the year, and compiled a.231 batting average.

Ankiel announced in January 2010 that he had signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Kansas City Royals. He started the season as the Royals' starting center fielder but was placed on the injured list in early May after playing sparingly from April 24 to May 24. He was activated on July 23, and he was brought to life in center field to replace an injured David DeJesus midway through the game. Jesse Chavez, Gregor Blanco, and Tim Collins were traded to the Atlanta Braves on July 31, Ankiel and reliever Kyle Farnsworth.

Ankiel won by 5–4 in the second game of the 2010 NLDS against the San Francisco Giants on October 8, turning McCovey Ramrez to McCovey Cove off the Giants' Ramón Ramrez in his first postseason home run. Rick is one of the few players to ever play a ball into the cove in the postseason, according to Barry Bonds. Ankiel said the home run was "the pinnacle of anything I've ever done" on television after the game. He had a.232 batting average, 6 home runs, and 24 RBI in only 74 games during the 2010 season.

The Braves denied Ankiel's club choice on November 2, 2010, making him a free agent. The Washington Nationals announced on December 20, 2010 that he had been granted a one-year, $1.5 million contract.

Ankiel appeared in 122 games for the Nationals in 2011, winning.239 with 9 home runs and 37 RBIs while platooning in center field with Roger Bernadina. He had a.996 field percentage for the season, with one error in 113 games in the outfield.

Ankiel's one-year, $1.25 million minor league contract for 2012 has been renewed by the Nationals. He started the season on the disabled list and was rehabbing in the minors. Since being promoted, his job was limited as a backfielder. He hit.228 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in 158 at-bats in 68 games. With a.983 fielding percentage, he started 37 games in center field and 62 total games in center field. Drew Storen, a Nationals closer, was added to the roster on July 19, and Ankiel was assigned to be sent by the Nationals to make room. The Nationals released Ankiel on July 27.

The Houston Astros granted Ankiel a non-roster invitee in spring training on January 17, 2013. In the Astros' regular season opener against the Texas Rangers in Houston on March 31, Ankiel was homered. He was scheduled for service on May 6 and released shortly after.

Ankiel was signed by the New York Mets a week later on May 13 and immediately placed him in their starting lineup. On May 15, he had two hits, including a two-run homer, against the Cardinals in St. Louis.

Ankiel's offensive numbers slowed after a 0-for-4, three-strike out triumph against the Miami Marlins on June 8 (giving him a total of 60 strikeouts in 128 at-bats for the season), according to the Mets. On June 13, he became a free agent. He batted.188 with 7 home runs and 18 RBI, as well as a.422 slugging percentage in 45 games.

On March 5, 2014, Ankiel announced his retirement from Major League Baseball.

The Washington Nationals reported on January 8, 2015, that they had recruited Ankiel as a "Life Skills Coordinator." Ankiel mentors players both on the major leagues and in the Nationals' farm system.

Ankiel's book The Phenomenon: Pressure, The Yips, and the Pitch that Changed My Life appeared in April 2017.

In August 2018, Ankiel said he was "toying with" the prospect of playing in professional baseball again. Ankiel announced later this month that he was returning to Major League Baseball as a pitcher for the 2019 season. In October, he underwent "primary repair" surgery, an alternative to Tommy John surgery in his pitching elbow. On July 30, 2019, Ankiel's comeback attempt came to an end. In 2019, he was eligible to vote in the Hall of Fame, but he was disqualified for the 2020 election.

After retiring, Ankiel became a commentator and studio analyst for Bally Sports Midwest, often with Dan McLaughlin in calling Cardinals games.

Source