Rick Ankiel

Rick Ankiel is a Major League Baseball player. He is currently an outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals.

During a May 4, 2009, game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Ankiel was carted off the field after crashing head-first into the far wall while making a catch. He was hospitalized, but all tests on his head, neck and back did not reveal any serious injury.ESPN.com: Ankiel's Tests Negative After Crash

Rick Ankiel was born in Fort Pierce, Florida, on July 19, 1979. In 1997, he was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round of the MLB amateur draft.Baseball-Reference.com: Rick Ankiel

On August 23, 1999, Ankiel made his MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals as a pitcher. In his first season, he appeared in nine games and compiled a 3.27 earned-run average. In 2000, he earned 11 wins with a 3.50 earned-run average. He then suffered a well publicized problem with his pitching control, as well as an injury to his elbow and re-invented himself as a hitter.New York Times Magazine: a Mound of troubles He completed his comeback in 2007, when he appeared in 47 games for the Cardinals as an outfielder and hit 11 homeruns while batting .285 with 39 runs batted in.MLB.com: Rick Ankiel In 2007, it was reported that Ankiel used HGH.ESPN.com: Report:Carinals' Ankiel received HGH supply in 2004

Rick Ankiel started his career in Major League Baseball as a pitcher. But after a well publicized struggle with his pitching control, he converted to the outfield, and was able to return to the major leagues as an everyday player.New York Times Magazine: a Mound of troubles On August 9, 2007, in his first MLB game as an outfielder, he hit a three-run home run, completing an amazing comeback.ESPN.com: Oufielder Ankiel goes deep in first game of return to the Majors

• July 19, 1979: Born
• 1997: Drafted by St. Louis Cardinals
• 1999: Debuted with St. Louis Cardinals
• 2001: Suffers pitching control problems
• 2007: Returns to Cardinals as an Outfielder

• Mahalo's Guide to the St. Louis Cardinals
• ESPN.com : Career Stats
  • Height: 6-1
  • Weight: 210
  • Rookie Year: 1999