The story of Rick Ankiel is one of the best comeback stories in baseball. At least the part that we all know. The Phenomenon. A star pitcher in the making. The knife accident. The meltdown. The end. The beginning. The practice. The rebrand. The centerfielder. The home run. The outfield assists. Oh, the outfield assists.
It is like a movie, except one that would never be made because audiences would think it was too unrealistic. That is the story we know.
But there is a part we do not know.