Latest Baseball News:Rick Ankiel Signs with the Royals
Article Summary:
To begin his career, Ankiel was a pitcher
Article Content:
Rick Ankiel has had one of the most interesting careers of any active baseball player. The next chapter of his story has the centerfielder heading to the Kansas City Royals. Ankiel will reported earn at least .25 million over one season.
To begin his career, Ankiel was a pitcher who broke into the big leaguers as a 20-year-old phenom in 1999. While initially pitching very well, Ankiel’s pitching career imploded and he was no longer a viable pitcher. So, instead of throwing pitches for a living, Ankiel became an outfielder for the Cardinals beginning in the 2007 season.
In 2007, Ankiel hit .285 with 11 homers in 47 games. He followed that up with 25 homers and a batting average of .264 in 2008. Last season, Ankiel struggled a bit with injuries and hit just .231 with 11 homers in 122 games.
The Royals are obviously betting on Ankiel bouncing back in 2010. The now 30-year-old Ankiel is a good defensive player with a relatively high ceiling considering his age. It’ll be interesting to see if Ankiel’s fairytale career continues or if this is the final stop.
Rick Ankiel has signed with the Kansas City Royals (Image: Zuma Press)
Post from: EveryJoe
Rick Ankiel Signs with the Royals
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