MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Ankiel Becomes Second Swing Player To Reach St. Louis

Published on August 9, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Thursday that former Swing of the Quad Cities outfielder Rick Ankiel is heading to the big leagues. The slugging outfielder is slated to be in the starting lineup for tonight's game against the San Diego Padres after having his contract purchased from Triple-A Memphis.

The roster move makes Ankiel the second player to climb from the Quad Cities to St. Louis since the Swing and Cardinals became affiliated prior to the 2005 season. Dennis Dove, Ankiel's teammate on the 2005 Swing, was the first such player to reach St. Louis after an April 30 call-up.

Ankiel, a 28-year-old former pitcher, joined the Swing in 2005 after announcing that he would scrap his mound career to become an outfielder. In 51 games with Quad Cities, the athletic lefty wowed Swing fans with tremendous raw power that sent balls arcing towards the Mississippi River on a regular basis. During his stay in Davenport, Ankiel belted 11 homers and drove in 45 runs, batting .270 before moving up to Double-A Springfield.

His ascent to the big leagues continued with Triple-A Memphis this season, where Ankiel was leading the Pacific Coast League with 32 home runs and second with 89 runs batted in. Through 102 games with the Redbirds, he slugged .568 while batting .267, doubling 15 times, and scoring 62 runs.

Ankiel's pending return to the majors as a position player is made even more impressive in light of the way his career started as a "can't-miss" pitching prospect. Initially a second-round pick by St. Louis in 1997 out of Port St. Lucie High School in Florida, the hard-throwing lefty with a devastating curveball blazed through the minor leagues and was named the Minor League Player of the Year in 1999, making his big-league debut later that season. But after going 11-7 with a 3.50 ERA and finishing second in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2000, a loss of control and a series of injuries in the ensuing years derailed his career as a hurler.

TICKETS: Tickets for all events at John O'Donnell Stadium can be purchased by calling the Swing of the Quad Cities ticket office at (563) 328-2000, coming to the box office located at the stadium along South Gaines Street, or by logging on to www.swingbaseball.com.

UP NEXT: The Swing are in the midst of a 10-game homestand that kicks off an action-packed month of August at John O'Donnell Stadium! All Swing games feature a radio broadcast that can be heard on WKBF AM-1270 or online at www.swingbaseball.com, with the pre-game show starting 15 minutes prior to scheduled first pitch.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: Thursday will be a Bent River Brewing Company Thirsty Thursday, featuring Rock 104.9's Dave & Darren as well as singles night, including the chance to win a date with Swing Director of Promotions Jess Schineller. Friday's game will feature post-game FIREWORKS before a Boy Scout sleepover, setting the stage for a fantastic weekend of more great promotions!!!

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Midwest League Stories from August 9, 2007


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