Rickie Weeks Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rickie Weeks Jr. |
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Weeks with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2013
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| Milwaukee Brewers – No. 23 | |||
| Second baseman / Associate manager | |||
| Born: September 13, 1982 Altamonte Springs, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 15, 2003, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 6, 2017, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .246 | ||
| Home runs | 161 | ||
| Runs batted in | 474 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Rickie Darnell Weeks Jr. (born September 13, 1982) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a second baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2003 to 2017. Rickie played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Tampa Bay Rays. He was chosen as an MLB All-Star in 2011.
Today, Rickie Weeks Jr. is the associate manager for the Milwaukee Brewers. He bats and throws with his right hand. For many years, Rickie had a special way of swinging his bat, moving it a lot before hitting the ball. Later, he changed it to be less noticeable, which helped him play even better. While he mostly played second base, he also played left field and first base later in his career.
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Early Baseball Days
Rickie Weeks Jr. grew up in Altamonte Springs, Florida. He went to Lake Brantley High School, where he played baseball. He also played football for one season as a cornerback and wide receiver.
After high school, Rickie went to Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was an amazing college baseball player. In 2002, he hit for a .495 average with 20 home runs, which was the best in NCAA Division I. The next year, he hit .479 with 16 home runs. He finished his college career with the highest batting average in NCAA history, at .465.
In 2003, Rickie won several big awards, including the Golden Spikes Award. This award goes to the best amateur baseball player in the country. Because of his great skills, the Milwaukee Brewers picked him as the second overall player in the 2003 MLB Draft.
Playing in the Major Leagues
Milwaukee Brewers Years
Rickie Weeks Jr. signed his first professional contract with the Brewers. He made his first appearance in a major league game on September 15, 2003.
Starting Strong (2003–2009)
Rickie became a full-time player for the Brewers in June 2005. In his first full season, he hit 13 home runs and stole 15 bases. He continued to show his speed and power in 2006, hitting 8 home runs and stealing 19 bases.
In 2008, Rickie played in the 2008 NL Division Series with the Brewers. He had a knee injury during one of the games and needed surgery. Despite some challenges, he continued to work hard and improve.
In 2009, Rickie started the season very well, hitting five home runs in April. However, he had another injury to his left wrist in May, which ended his season early. At that time, he was tied for the most home runs on his team.
All-Star Seasons (2010–2014)
The year 2010 was one of Rickie's best. He played in 160 games and hit a career-high 29 home runs and had 83 RBIs. He also had a strong .366 on-base percentage, meaning he got on base often. He led the National League in times at bat and times hit by a pitch.
In 2011, fans voted Rickie to be the starting second baseman for the National League in the 2011 MLB All-Star Game. This was a huge honor! Later that season, he hurt his ankle and missed some games. Even with the injury, he finished the regular season with 20 home runs.
Rickie continued to play for the Brewers through 2014. In his final year with the team, he played well, especially against left-handed pitchers. After the 2014 season, his contract with the Brewers ended, closing his ten years with the team.
Other Teams (2015–2017)
After leaving the Brewers, Rickie Weeks Jr. played for a few other teams.
Seattle Mariners (2015)
In 2015, Rickie signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Mariners. He played in some games but was released by the team in June.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2016)
He then signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016. He made their opening day roster and played for them that season.
Tampa Bay Rays (2017)
In 2017, Rickie joined the Tampa Bay Rays. He played first base for them. He had a shoulder injury in June and was released by the team in July. This was his final season as a player in Major League Baseball.
After Playing Baseball
After his playing career, Rickie Weeks Jr. stayed involved in baseball. On February 4, 2022, the Milwaukee Brewers hired him to help with their player development staff. This means he helped young players improve their skills.
After the 2023 season, the Brewers named Rickie Weeks Jr. their associate manager. He now works alongside manager Pat Murphy on the coaching staff.
Family Life
Rickie Weeks Jr. married Tiphany Easterling in 2014. His father, Richard, also played college baseball. Rickie's grandfather was an outfielder in the Negro leagues in the 1940s. His sister, Kaisha, was a track athlete in college.
Rickie's brother, Jemile Weeks, is also a professional baseball player. Jemile was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 2008.
Awards and Honors
- Baseball America College Player of the Year – 2003
- Dick Howser Trophy – 2003
- Golden Spikes Award – 2003
- Rotary Smith Award – 2003
- Southwestern Athletic Conference's Most Outstanding Hitter – 2003
- Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year – 2003
- National League starter at second base, 2011 MLB All-Star Game
Images for kids
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Weeks with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2013
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Rickie Weeks and Prince Fielder at Brewers spring training in 2005
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Weeks in 2007
