Rickie Weeks

Team Number:	23
Birth Date:	09/13/1982
Height:	6'0"
Weight:	205lbs.
Position:	Infielder

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Rickie Weeks, whose quick hands are said to be his best asset, is batting leadoff for the Milwaukee Brewers’ 2007 season. After ending the 2005 and 2006 seasons early due to injury, there is anticipation that this year won’t end early for this right-handed, run-producer.

Weeks attended Southern University where he played baseball and was named 2003 Baseball America’s College Player of the Year. Leading the country in hitting in 2002 (.495) and 2003 (.479), Weeks set an NCAA Division I .473 career batting average. He earned both a Rotary Smith Award and a Dick Howser Trophy from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in 2003. That same year, Rickie Weeks earned the prestigious Golden Spikes Award as the best amateur player in United States.

Weeks signed a deal with the Brewers in 2003, garnering him a $3.6 million signing bonus. He did not become a full-time player for the Milwaukee Brewers until June 2005 when he came up from AAA ball. Having only played for the Milwaukee Brewers thus far in his career, Second Baseman, Rickie Weeks has 188 hits and 21 home runs under his belt through the 2006 season. In May 2005, Weeks was named Brewers Player of the Month as he batted .347. Learning from experience, Rickie Weeks had made 20 errors in his first 52 games, then just 2 in his last 43.

Weeks can suffer from the injury bug from time to time. In early March, he suffered a hand injury. As of March 23, Rickie was back to swinging the bat. He went two for four and hit a homer, proving that he’s healing up nicely. Rickie started the 2008 home opener against the Cubs at Wrigley. Weeks is due for a great 2008 season. If he starts this season as he finished in 2007, Weeks could be one of the highlight second basemen of major league baseball. Weeks struggled during spring training. Along with the injury to his hand, he was striking out quite a bit. If he fixes his swing and tweaks his mechanics, he will be a great asset to the 2008 roster. Speed is not Rickie’s problem. It is more about his mechanics.

Unfortunately, fans will never know what would have happened during this season, whether this would be Weeks big break or not when it his season came to a screeching halt mid May due to a wrist injury. The little time he spent on the field, he had a stellar start to the season with a .272 batting average and nine homers in just 37 games. He has worked hard to improve defensively but still has far to go. Most importantly for the 2010 season, Weeks needs to remain healthy and injury free for one full season which is something he has not been able to do for the past four years.