The Nationals hired Rick Ankiel as a 'life skills coordinator'

Rick Ankiel had a really weird major-league playing career, and now his coaching career is off to an unusual start. Ankiel, who first cracked the majors as a

Extra Mustard | Jan 8, 2015

The Nationals hired Rick Ankiel as a 'life skills coordinator' /

Rick Ankiel had a really weird major-league playing career, and now his coaching career is off to an unusual start.

Ankiel, who first cracked the majors as a promising 19-year-old pitcher, suddenly lost the ability to throw strikes, disappeared for a couple seasons and re-emerged as an outfielder, has been appointed as a "life skills coordinator" for the Washington Nationals.

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It's a position they created for Ankiel, who "will draw on his vast experience as a player to help mentor Nationals farmhands."

He clearly wouldn't make much of a pitching coach and he didn't really light things up as a hitter, but he's had a really interesting life in baseball.

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- Dan Gartland

Published Jan 8, 2015

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