This week I’m going to look at 2 sluggers who are opposite ends of the spectrum – Rick Ankiel and Ryan Braun.
Rick Ankiel
Ankiel was drafted in 1997 (2nd Round, 72nd overall) out of Port St. Lucie HS; he was an All-American and USA Today’s High School Player of the Year. As a senior, he was 11-1 with a 0.47 ERA. At the time he was draft, he was given the 5th highest bonus for an amateur player at that time ($2.5 mil).
In 1998, his first full season, he was named to the Carolina League All Star team, Baseball America’s first team Minor-League All Star, top pitching prospect in the Carolina League (High A) and Midwest League (Low A), and the Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year. He followed that season with the start in the Double A All Star Game; played in the Texas League (Double A) All Star game; Minor League Player of the Year by BA, USA Today and the Cardinals; BA first team Minor League All Star; and a Major League call up at age 19.
August 23 vs. Montreal Expos:
He received a no decision in his first start, and ended the year 0-1 in 5 starts (he pitched 4 more games out of the bullpen).
In 2000, Ankiel broke out.
He ranked in the top 10 in ERA (9th), strikeouts (7th), strikeouts per 9 innings (2nd, 9.98), hits per 9 innings (2nd, 7.05), and Rookie of the Year voting (2nd to Rafael Furcal). He threw a mid-90s fastball, a great sinker, and a devastating 12-to-6 curve – his out pitch. That year also featured the most well known implosion.
The Cardinals made the playoffs that year, facing the Braves in the first round. The Cardinals had many injured and tired pitching; the 2 starters that were strong were Ankiel and Darryl Kile. To keep Ankiel on normal rest, he was selected to start game 1; Tony LaRussa threw a loop to everyone by announcing Kile would start game 1 to keep the pressure off his young pitcher (he later announce that Ankiel would start).
Everything started smooth; Ankiel pitched ok in the first 2 innings (2 walks, 1 single, 1 double) and the Cardinals took an early 6-0 lead. The 3rd inning was when the wheels fell off. The 3rd according to Retro Sheet:
Greg Maddux walked; Rafael Furcal popped to Will Clark in foul territory; Ankiel threw a wild pitch (Maddux to second); Ankiel threw a wild pitch (Maddux to third); Andruw Jones walked; Ankiel threw a wild pitch (A. Jones to 2nd); Chipper Jones was called out on strikes; Andrés Galarraga walked (Maddux scored on wild pitch by Ankiel; A. Jones to 3rd); Brian Jordan singled to Ray Lankford (A. Jones scored, Galarraga to 2nd); Ankiel threw a wild pitch (Galarraga to 3rd, Jordan to 2nd); Reggie Sanders walked; Walt Weiss singled to Lankford (Galarraga scored, Jordan scored, Sanders to 2nd); Mike James replaced Ankiel; Javy López popped to Fernando Viña; 4 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Braves 4, Cardinals 6.
Ankiel was pulled with 2 outs and 5 wild pitches – the first time a pitcher threw 5 wild pitches in an inning since 1890. The Cardinals won the series and faced the Mets. Ankiel started game 2 of the series, this time throwing 5 of 20 pitchers past catcher Eli Marrero; he was pulled in the first and the Cards were swept.
In 2001, Ankiel started the season in the Majors, but threw 5 wild pitches and walked 25 batters in 24 innings. The Cardinals sent him down to Triple A Memphis where he was even worse (17 walks, 12 wild pitches in 4.1 innings). It was time to make Ankiel start all over. They moved him down to Rookie level Johnson City to have Rick face lower talent to help his confidence. He pitched well and served as the teams DH; he was voted Rookie Level Player of the Year, Appalachian League All-Star left handed pitcher, Rookie League All-Star starting pitcher, Appalachian League Pitcher of the Year, and Appalachian League All-Star designated hitter.
Injuries plagued the pitcher for the next 2 seasons, limiting him to 54.1 innings. He returned at the end of 2004, pitching out of the bullpen for the Cardinals. He went to the Puerto Rican Baseball League that winter and pitched well – there was talk that he was back to his form. Unfortunately, he got wild again in Spring Training of 2005; he announce that he was retiring as a pitcher and was going to try to be an outfielder. He had a solid season at High A and Double A in his first full time fielding. In 2006, he received a invite to the Card’s big league camp with hopes that he could be a back up outfielder. He started well, but injured his knee before the season started. He missed the full year.
He again was invited to big league camp in 2007 and impressed everyone. Since the outfield was already full, Rick was sent to Triple A Memphis to play everyday. And play he did; after a slow start, Rick began to hit and hit hard. He was leading the Pacific Coast League in home runs until he was called up on August 9th.
Living in St. Louis, all that was reported that day was Ankiel being called up; the only question was the corresponding move. Unfortunately, it was that Scott Spiezio was being placed on the restricted list for drug and alcohol problems (he’s currently in rehab and not expected back this season). Ankiel started in right field and went 1-4 with a home run. He received an ovation when he took the field, during his first at bat, and received a curtain call after his home run. Since then, he’s been the spark the Cardinals have been missing – the Cardinals are 6-1 since he was called up.
It’s a nice little story, isn’t it. Kids, don’t give up.
Ryan Braun is the complete opposite…
Ryan Braun
Braun has hit everywhere he’s gone; he was also a 100 high school player after his senior year – a sure sign that he’d be drafted in the first couple of rounds in 2002. Instead, he told teams that he was attending the University of Miami, where he was voted Freshman of the Year by BA. After his junior season (2005), he was a finalist for the Gold Spikes Award for the top College Baseball player.
He decided to forgo his senior season and enter the draft. He was taken in the first round (5th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers – a couple of picks behind Alex Gordon and a couple of picks before Ryan Zimmerman. Milwaukee decided to be a little more patient with Braun, than the other 2 teams and their third basemen (Zimmerman was up by the end of the season; Gordon didn’t play in 2005, made it to Double A in 2006, and straight to the Majors this year). Braun worked a couple of levels each year – starting a Single A in 2005 and being ranked the 5th best prospect in the South Atlantic League. In 2006, he split time between High A and Double A, and was the Brewers Minor League Player of the Year. He followed that up with a stint in the Arizona Fall League, where he led hitters in extra base hits and was rated the 3rd best prospect in the league.
He began this year at Triple A Nashville after a strong Spring Training where he almost made the team. In Nashville, he hit 10 homers in 113 at bats. When the Brewers were struggling in production at third base, they caved and called him up.
In his short time up, he’s been on fire:
He’s been the National League Rookie of the Month for June and July, National League Player of the Month for July, and the fastest Brewer to 20 career homers. He’s currently the front-runner for NL Rookie of the Year.
The one knock on him at the beginning of the year was his defense needed some work. Since he’s been up, he’s been a continuous “Web Gem†nominee on Baseball Tonight, but needs to work on his errors (18, .897 fielding). If he can get his fielding a little better, he’ll be one of the elite third basemen for years.
Breaking News
The Cubs take the top starting pitcher of the upcoming free agents off the market. The Cubs will announce that they have signed Carlos Zambrano to a 6 year, $90 million contract extension today.
Until next time, e-mail or post questions, comments, or concerns. Thanks.
