Rick Ankiel Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1921
AVG	.241
OBP	.302
SLG	.422
HR	76

Full name Richard Alexander Ankiel
Born 07/19/1979 in Fort Pierce, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Port Saint Lucie
Debut 08/23/1999
Drafted in the 2nd round (72nd overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1997 (signed for $2,500,000).

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

If Ankiel can make it back to the big leagues as an outfielder, it would be a heartwarming story. He had two-way ability in high school, but his arm was so good that it was clear he would be a pitcher after he signed for $2.5 million as a second-round pick in 1997. He made his big league debut in 1999, held the No. 1 spot on Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects list that offseason and spent all of 2000 in St. Louis. He went 11-7, 3.50 and was dominant at times during the regular season, but his control suddenly deserted him in the playoffs-- he had 11 walks and nine wild pitches in four innings--never to return. (He qualifies for this prospect list because he hasn't exceeded the rookie limit of 130 major league at-bats.) Ankiel was a terrific hitter as an amateur, and he starred as a two-way player for the U.S. junior national team for two summers. Teammates and scouts who saw him take batting practice even when he was pitching said he could have been one of the best hitting prospects in the minors. Once he committed to hitting full-time again in 2005, it didn't take him long to knock off the rust. He showed the same smooth swing and power potential he had as an amateur, and his 21 homers tied for the system lead even though he missed the first month recovering from a strained back he suffered in spring training. Ankiel opened his season by going 1-for-20 in Double-A, then was demoted to low Class A so he could have success and find a groove. When he returned to Double-A, he hit 10 homers and drove in 30 runs in his final 28 games. His speed is close to average and he's still learning the nuances of outfield play, but he clearly has an outstanding arm. Scouts who saw him last year said he had a chance to become a platoon outfielder in the majors. Age is his biggest negative at this point, and at 26 he'll get a long look in spring training. The Cardinals obviously saw something last year, because they restored him to the 40-man roster after removing him in spring training. He'll probably open 2006 in Triple-A, but if he hits he'll be back in St. Louis soon.
Background: The No. 1 prospect before last season drops to No. 2 only because Drew came into the organization. His first professional season was outstanding, as he dominated Class A hitters and led the minor leagues in strikeouts. Strengths: Ankiel has three major league pitches now and knows what to do with them. He reaches the mid-90s with his fastball, and his big-breaking curveball is so good that minor league umpires get fooled by it. He's a student of the game who's anxious to learn all the finer points of pitching. Weaknesses: Ankiel is still mastering the art of setting up hitters and developing the confidence and precision command to throw any pitch at any time in the count. He has a big body and will have to watch his weight, which he has done well so far. The Future: The Cardinals will send Ankiel to Double-A Arkansas to start the season. If he dominates, he'll have a shot at the big league rotation in 2000. If not, push his schedule back a year.

Minor League Top Prospects

Ankiel just plain owned the Double-A Texas League while pitching for Arkansas, going 6-0, 0.91. It wasn't long before he was hanging his hat in Memphis, where he made 16 starts and solidified his selection as Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year. "He's a (20-year-old) who absolutely threw the ball like a grown man," said Salt Lake manager Phil Roof. "He sure didn't seem to think like a kid. He knew what he was doing." The Cardinals had Ankiel on a 110-pitch count, so he didn't pitch deep into a lot of games. "His longest outing for us was seven innings," Memphis manager Gaylen Pitts said, "and he only pitched that long once. He's still trying to get command of his breaking ball consistently, so he went deep in a lot of counts and that used up his pitch count. "But he's young, and he has a super arm. He's not polished, but he has super ability and he's going to be a good one. He had a lot of distractions and he handled them well." New Orleans outfielder Mike Neal, who doubled in three at-bats against Ankiel, saw only one weakness. "I thought he'd be taller, like Randy Johnson," Neal said.
Ankiel didn't stay long, but he left a definite impression. His combination of superlative skills--he has three quality big league pitches--and uncanny maturity made for a formidable combination that wasn't solved by Texas League hitters. "He's got great poise for a young kid," Midland pitching coach Glenn Abbott said after Ankiel's last start. "You don't see that. He's beyond his years as a pitcher." "I liked his poise and his command for a 19-year-old," Midland manager Tony DeFrancesco said. "And the breaking ball he has." Ankiel led the league in strikeouts when he left. Had he remained, he would have shattered records. But the Cardinals would have been happier with fewer strikeouts and more innings. Kept on a strict pitch limit, he often worked too deep into counts and usually didn't get past the sixth inning. He needs to learn to get outs earlier in the count to lengthen his outings. After spending three months at Triple-A Memphis (and turning 20), Ankiel was promoted to St. Louis in late August. He is expected to stay in the major league starting rotation in 2000. The Cardinals believe he is a future No. 1 starter.