CINCINNATI - The Cardinals have decided to make Class A Palm Beach the starting point for lefthander Rick Ankiel's rehab assignment. Ankiel, who had ligament transplant surgery on his left elbow last July, has been working at the team's spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. Barring complications in the next few days, he is ready to begin a 30-day assignment.
General manager Walt Jocketty said, "He's going to work his way up. Physically he's 100 percent and his arm is very strong. Everything else has been good as well. His command is there."
Manager Tony La Russa said Tuesday that the organization plans to promote Ankiel to St. Louis when rosters expand in September, should the lefthander continue to make progress.
Ankiel hasn't pitched for the Cardinals since May 2001 and last appeared in a minor-league game last July. He worked 10 relief appearances and 10 starts at Tennessee before having surgery in Los Angeles July 16. Though La Russa said Ankiel would pitch in the major-league team's bullpen if able to compete, the lefthander apparently will be a starter during his rehab, according to Jocketty.
Ankiel, who turned 25 last week, won 11 games as a rookie member of the Cardinals' starting rotation in 2000 but has since made only six major-league starts.
Jocketty couldn't offer a hard timetable, saying, "It depends on how he does." However, he said Ankiel will make at least two starts at Palm Beach before the club considers promoting him to Class AA.
