Editing Rick Ankiel (section)

===Control issues (2001–2004)===
[[File:Rick Ankiel.jpg|250px|thumb|Ankiel with the [[Swing of the Quad Cities]] in 2005]]
Ankiel returned to the majors in 2001 but again had issues controlling his pitches, walking 25 batters and throwing five wild pitches in 24 innings,<ref name=data/> and was sent down to Triple-A. His problems in the minors became dramatic. In {{frac|4|1|3}} innings, Ankiel walked 17 batters and threw 12 wild pitches, accumulating a 20.77 ERA.<ref name=data/> He was demoted all the way down to the Rookie League [[Johnson City Cardinals]], where he was successful as both a starting pitcher, with a 1.33 ERA in 14 starts, and a [[designated hitter]], sporting a .638 slugging percentage with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs in 118 plate appearances.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rick Ankiel MLB, Minor League Baseball Statistics |url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/4147/#summary |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=The Baseball Cube}}</ref>

In 2002, Ankiel sat out the season due to a left elbow sprain, and was not cleared to throw until December. He returned to the minors in 2003, posting a 6.29 [[Earned run average|ERA]] in 10 starts<ref name=data/> before undergoing season-ending [[Ulnar collateral ligament (elbow)|ulnar collateral ligament]] reconstruction ([[Tommy John surgery]]) for his left elbow in July. In {{frac|54|1|3}} innings, he walked 49 batters and threw 10 wild pitches.<ref name=data/>

Ankiel returned to the majors in September 2004, posting a 5.40 [[Earned run average|ERA]] in five relief appearances. Ankiel's control problems appeared to be gone, as he walked just one while striking out nine in ten innings.<ref name=data/> In the minors, he walked only two batters in {{frac|23|2|3}} innings, while striking out 23. He pitched in the winter [[Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League]], where he felt a "twinge" in his pitching elbow.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2005-03-10 |title=Wild Pitcher Ankiel Will Switch to Outfield |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-mar-10-sp-bbnotes10-story.html |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=}}</ref>