Rick Ankiel thinks he is cured.
The former Mets outfielder is “toying with” getting back on a major-league mound at the age of 39, despite not throwing a competitive pitch since 2004.
“I have nothing to lose,” Ankiel told Yahoo Sports. “I’m not afraid. I might as well try.”
Ankiel’s pitching career started with promise, as he posted a 3.27 in his rookie season. The next campaign would turn out to be his best – 11 wins and a 3.50 ERA – before he got the yips and went off the rails.
The former Cardinal struggled with his control in the next two seasons, and was pushed out of the big leagues until he returned as an outfielder in 2007.