Not many baseball players in this day and age stick around with one team for very long. Ever since free-agency leaped into the forefront, baseball has been largely built around high turnover with very few players donning one cap for the duration of their careers, let alone three or four years. The Philadelphia Phillies have multiple players who have spent their careers in red and white, namely Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, but the pickings are slim among non-Phillies when searching for those who have called one place home. Rickie Weeks was one of the rarities, making his debut with the Milwaukee Brewers as a September call-up in 2003 upon being drafted the previous June. Thirteen years he spent in the organization, but that run came to an end this past offseason, when Milwaukee decided to cut ties. And, looking for new digs for the first time, phone calls were few and far between for the man who was once beloved in Milwaukee, until the Seattle Mariners showed interest.
Seattle targeting Weeks seemed odd at the time, considering how good veteran Willie Bloomquist has been filling their utility role. Additionally, it was strange considering General Manager Jack Zduriencik had indicated his team was done making chances to the major league roster; as there was no room, Weeks’ signing meant an accompanying move to the 40-man roster was necessary. Despite all of this, though, that Weeks found his way to Seattle shouldn’t be altogether surprising considering the bond between him and Zduriencik, who was the director of scouting for the Brewers back in 2003 who advocated for their selecting the dreadlocked power hitter with the second overall pick.
Weeks is appreciative of Zduriencik’s presence and how up front he is in regards to expectations. “Sometimes when you go through management or the business side of things, you kind of want someone who is straight up with you, who is very honest,” Weeks told King 5’s Chris Egan. “Jack [Zduriencik], he’s on that all around.”
Zduriencik had faith in Weeks way back when and does now in the 32-year-old, who battled injuries, decline in production and in turn a decrease in playing time towards the end of his Brewers tenure. There was once a point in time when Weeks, with a demonstrative bat waggle reminiscent of former star slugger Gary Sheffield, a powerful stroke to boot, and excellent plate discipline, was seen as a potential perennial all-star. That didn’t come to fruition, though he did have many more than effective years with the Brew Crew, reaching the 20-homer plateau three consecutive seasons from 2010-2012 while being named to the All-Star team in 2011.
He isn’t that far removed from that success, but he still enters Spring Training a bit of a puzzle. He was hampered by an ankle injury in 2012 that resulted in a drop in batting average and on-base percentage, among other statistics, and followed that up with continued decline, hitting a paltry .209 in limited action before going down with a torn hamstring. Injuries no doubt played a role in his performance, but he bounced back in his Milwaukee swan song, posting his best batting average since 2006 at .274, while reaching base at a respectable .357 clip that is reminiscent of his prime. Which player are the Mariners getting? Who knows, but they are welcoming someone relishing in a fresh start.
Weeks’ ultimate undoing in Milwaukee wasn’t just his inconsistent bat and injury issues; his defense at second base was far from satisfactory, and he didn’t possess the ability to play other positions. The result: his being used in a platoon role in 2013, sharing time with young Scooter Gennett. The loss of his starting job made it clear his time in Milwaukee was coming to an end. And yet now, perhaps versatility has entered his arsenal, as the Mariners are planning on using him in the outfield. This is quite the gamble considering he has never played a major league in the grass-laden land beyond second base, but Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon is confident he can make a relatively seamless transition.
“I’ve watched Rickie for the last three days,” McClendon said to the Wisconsin State Journal in late February. “I’ve been fairly impressed with the way he’s moving around out there. Listen, I made the transition from catcher to (outfield). Rickie is certainly a much better athlete than I ever was. I don’t see the major concern that most people see. I think he’s going to adapt real easily.”
Not only that, but McClendon thinks highly enough of him to contemplate a Weeks/Dustin Ackley platoon in left-field. It may be fitting that these two will likely split playing time, given Ackley was once a prized prospect like Weeks and also came up as a second baseman, only to struggle to fulfill expectations, but the expected partnership in left is more to do with confidence in Weeks than lack thereof in Ackley.
Weeks is experiencing two firsts, a new team and, as of Friday’s Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, his first professional experience in the outfield, but with a tamed bat waggle, improved mechanics, a short haircut in place of his once cascading dreadlocks and a new fire burning within, he is ready to contribute in his new digs. And the Mariners know he can do so on a high level.
“Tremendous kid, tough as nails, really hungry coming off the last two years which were less than desirable,” Zduriencik told KING 5. “He’s healthy now, looks great, and he’s going to be a nice part of this club.”
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