Rick Ankiel
Referral Partner & Baseball Team Coach
Rick Ankiel brings a rare combination of elite-level athletic resilience and coaching insight to ARISE as a Referral Partner and Baseball Team Coach. His career’s narrative of reinvention—from a celebrated pitcher to a powerful outfielder—offers profound lessons in adaptability, performance, and leadership.
Rick Ankiel embodies the resilience and adaptability at the heart of high performance. His journey—from a dominant young pitcher, through career upheaval, to reinvention as a power-hitting outfielder and coach—serves as a powerful model for both athletic and personal growth.
Athletic Legacy & Career Highlights
Debuted in MLB with the St. Louis Cardinals as a highly touted pitcher in 1999, quickly emerging as one of baseball’s top young arms, finishing second in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2000 with an 11–7 record, 3.50 ERA, and 194 strikeouts.
Endured an infamous postseason “meltdown” that sparked a career-altering transition: Ankiel reinvented himself as an outfielder, returning to MLB in 2007 with renewed skills.
Became one of just two players since Babe Ruth to both start 25+ games as a pitcher and hit 25+ home runs in a single season; in 2008, he logged 25 homers and a .264 batting average.
Across his 11-season MLB career, Ankiel played for six teams—including the Cardinals, Royals, Braves, Nationals, Astros, and Mets—amassing 76 career home runs and 251 RBIs, along with a solid .240 batting average.
Honored post-career with induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for his remarkable comeback and unique baseball journey.
Coaching & Leadership Experience
Served as the Life Skills Coordinator for the Washington Nationals, offering mentorship and personal development support to players in both major and minor league systems.
Continues to contribute to the sport in varied roles—including as a mentor, coach, analyst, and author—sharing invaluable insight from his storied career.
Role at ARISE
As an ARISE Team Coach, Rick brings unparalleled perspective on mental toughness, positional mastery, and growth mindset—using his lived experience to guide athletes through performance and mindset development.
Through his role as a Referral Partner, he aligns ARISE clients with baseball instruction and performance culture rooted in professional standards and personal transformation.