About Rick

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Rick Ankiel's baseball journey is nothing short of extraordinary, etching his name in the sport's history with unparalleled achievements. Drafted by the St Louis Cardinals out of Port St Lucie High School in 1997, where he went 11–1 with a 0.47 ERA during his senior season, striking out 162 batters in 74.0 innings pitched, and was named the High School Player of the Year by USA Today. He was a first-team high-school All-American pitcher and had 9 no hitters. Rick was a a 3 time member of the USA Baseball Team, hitting .417 for the Bronze Medal winning team his first summer. He was also 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA on the hill that year. HIs second summer he was a 2 way star for Team USA going 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA with 48 K's in 30 innings and hitting .387. In 1997 he was the only All-Star named for the Bronze winning USA Team in the World Junior Championship and won the Golden Diamond award given to the National Amateur Junior Player of the Year, sponsored by MLB Players Association.

As a pro, accolades poured in as he was named the Minor League Player of the Year by both Baseball America and USA Today. He was also Texas League All-Star pitcher, Double-A All-Star starting pitcher, Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year and Baseball America First Team Minor League All-Star starting pitcher.

Ankiel made his MLB debut in 1999 in Montreal against the Expos. He pitched his first full season in 2000 at the age of 20 (second youngest in the league), posting an 11–7 record, a 3.50 ERA (tenth in the league), and 194 strikeouts (seventh in the league) in 30 games started. Ankiel threw a 94- to 97-mph fastball, a heavy sinker, and a fall-off-the-table curveball that was given the nickname "The Snapdragon" by Mark McGwire. He struck out batters at a rate of 9.98 strikeouts per nine innings, second in the league, and allowed only 7.05 hits per nine innings. He came in second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. He received The Sporting News Rookie Player of the Year Award.

After a successful 2000 regular season in which Rick posted a 3.50 ERA and set a Cardinals record for strikeouts with 194, the postseason took a turn for the worst, Rick experienced what is called the "yips", a condition that takes away control from a player with no known cause. Rick asked to be sent to the minors to work on his control. He had Tommy John surgery in 2003 and then battled his way back on the mound for the Cardinals in late 2004. 

In 2005, after realizing the mental strain to perform as a pitcher was too much, he switched positions and became an outfielder. Rick is the only player in MLB history to make the Big Leagues twice, first as a pitcher and then again as a position player. Rick played all three outfield positions. He has suited up for the Cardinals, Royals, Braves, Nationals, Astros and Mets. Rick was known for his defense and had arguably the best arm in all of baseball. His highlights of throwing runners out is legendary. Atlanta Braves Manager Bobby Cox was quoted saying he had the best arm he had ever seen in 50 years in baseball.

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 Cannons Hall of Fame, Class of 2014 and has his number retired at Port St Lucie High School.

In addition to helping MLB players with the mental game of baseball, Rick works as a Baseball Analyst and has recently opened Inlet Yachts, a yacht brokerage. He is a Florida native and makes his offseason home in Jupiter, FL with his wife, Lory and two sons.

photo credit: jack bates