Ankiel takes key step in comeback

JUPITER, Fla. -- Rick Ankiel’s comeback quest reached another milestone this week as the former pitcher-turned-hitter played catch for the first time since undergoing surgery on his left elbow in October. He is aiming to be ready for competition by June.

Ankiel, 39, stated his intentions to try to return to the Majors as a pitcher late last summer. The Cardinals were ready to sign Ankiel to a Minor League deal to give him that shot, but they postponed those plans until after Ankiel had a partially torn tendon in his elbow repaired.

The Cardinals have granted Ankiel, who resides in Jupiter, access to work out at their facility, and the organization still intends to offer him a Minor League contract once he is further along in his recovery.

“Go through that rehab throwing and see where it goes,” Ankiel said on Wednesday, one day after playing catch. “It’s a lot more fun now that I’ve played catch. But it’s almost like being on the DL, and I don’t care who you are, that’s no fun at all.”

It has been six years since Ankiel last appeared in a big league game and 15 since he pitched in one. Ankiel, who finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year Award race in 2001, developed the yips while pitching in the postseason for the Cardinals that season.

The left-hander made six appearances as a pitcher in 2001 and five more in ’04 before converting to the outfield. He rejoined the Cardinals as a position player in ’07, hit 25 homers in ’08 and then finished his career with stops in Kansas City, Atlanta, Washington, Houston and the New York Mets before retiring after the 2013 season.

Ankiel confirmed that he did not renew his contract with Fox Sports Midwest this season since he is focused on his pitching comeback. Ankiel served as an analyst for game broadcasts and on the station's pre- and postgame show from 2016-18.

“When I talked to them, they said, ‘Go give the comeback thing a try,’” Ankiel said. “’Just give us a call when you’re done.’”