Rick Ankiel was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2nd round of the 1997 MLB June Amateur Draft from Port St. Lucie HS (Port St. Lucie, FL). What position did Rick Ankiel play? Rick Ankiel was a Centerfielder and Pitcher.

Ankiel became the first player after Babe Ruth to win at least 10 games as a pitcher and also hit at least 70 home runs. Ankiel is also the only player other than Ruth to both start a postseason game as a pitcher and hit a home run in the postseason as a position player.

Tabbed the Minor League Player of the Year by USA Today and Baseball America in 1999... was named the Cardinals' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in both 1998 and 1999. ... Finished second in the 2000 National League Rookie of the Year voting...heading into the season, was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 1 prospect in baseball. ...

Rick Ankiel career pitching statistics for Major League, Minor League, and postseason baseball

Apr 24, 2017 · Ankiel entered the major leagues in 1999 as a gifted pitcher, but one day suddenly lost that gift. He talks about his pitching demons, his troubled childhood and his way back to baseball.

Apr 15, 2020 · After a brief call-up to the majors in 1999, Rick Ankiel pitched his first full season for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2000 season. And the 20-year-old made a good first impression. In 30 starts, Ankiel had an 11-7 record, recorded 194 strikeouts, and finished with a 3.50 ERA.

Only two players in MLB history have pitched 20 innings and hit 25 home runs in a season and were the starting pitcher of a playoff game and homered in a playoff game, Rick Ankiel and Babe Ruth. Rick has been inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2022, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2018 and the Prince William ...

May 19, 2017 · At 20 years old, Rick Ankiel seemed to be on his way to becoming one of the great pitchers in the major leagues. That is, until one wrong inning changed his life — and his fielding position.

Dec 14, 2021 · The following season, Ankiel continued to hone his pitching in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League. Unfortunately, his appearances in spring training were not positive. Ankiel would throw 20 pitches and only get three into the strike zone.

Ankiel reached the big leagues in 1999 as a once-in-a-generation pitcher – and all of 20 years old. There he was, a rare left-hander with a fastball buzzing in at 98 mph, a power sinker and a curveball that seemed drawn for a Bugs Bunny cartoon.