Ankiel ready to begin his new journey at Class AA

ST. LOUIS -- Rick Ankiel, the St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher turned outfield prospect, was activated by Class AA Springfield on Thursday after being sidelined by a back injury since the end of spring training.

Ankiel played a handful of games at extended spring training in the last week before the team cleared him for action. He was in the lineup for a home game Thursday night against the Corpus Christi Hooks and went 1-for-4 at the plate.

"Our manager will determine where to hit him and what he wants to do with him," said Bruce Manno, director of player development. "As long as he's healthy we're excited to get him in there."

Ankiel, once one of the Cardinals' brightest prospects, decided to stop pitching in March on a day he had been scheduled to make a "B" game start, and devoted his efforts to making it back to the major leagues as an outfielder. He had been plagued by wildness and elbow surgery in 2003 before pitching for the Cardinals last September, his first appearance in the majors in more than three years.

Ankiel, 25, signed a minor league contract with the Cardinals earlier this month after clearing waivers.