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. was a professional baseball player. He played second base for many teams in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2003 to 2017. He was even an All-Star player in 2011! Rickie was born on September 13, 1982. After his playing career, he became an associate manager for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Rickie was known for batting and throwing with his right hand. For a while, he had a special way of holding his bat, moving it a lot before he swung. He changed this a bit in 2009, which he said helped him hit better. While he mostly played second base, he also played left field and first base later in his career.
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Rickie Weeks' Early Baseball Days
Rickie Weeks grew up in Altamonte Springs, Florida. He went to Lake Brantley High School. There, he played both baseball and football. In football, he played 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, as a sophomore, he hit for a very high average of .495. He also hit 20 home runs. He won the NCAA Division I batting title that year.
- The next year, he hit .479 with 16 home runs. He won his second batting title in a row!
- Rickie finished his college career with the highest batting average in NCAA history: .465.
In 2003, he won several big awards. These included the Baseball America College Player of the Year and the Golden Spikes Award. The Golden Spikes Award goes to the best amateur baseball player. The Milwaukee Brewers were very impressed and picked him second overall in the 2003 MLB Draft.
Rickie Weeks' Professional Career
Playing for the Milwaukee Brewers
Rickie signed a contract with the Brewers that included a $3.6 million bonus. He made his first appearance in a major league game on September 15, 2003.
First Years with the Brewers (2003–2009)
Rickie became a full-time player for the Brewers in June 2005. This was after he was called up from the Triple-A team, the Nashville Sounds. Even with a thumb injury, he played well. In his first full MLB season in 2005, he hit .239 with 13 home runs and 15 stolen bases. In 2006, he hit .279 with 8 home runs and 19 stolen bases.
In 2007, Rickie had a wrist injury. After he came back, his hitting struggled. He was sent back to the Nashville Sounds in July.
In 2008, Rickie had some trouble with fielding at second base. However, when he got on base, he scored runs almost half the time. This was one of the best rates in the National League.
During the 2008 NL Division Series, Rickie hurt his knee. He needed surgery to fix it. In February 2009, Rickie and the Brewers agreed on a one-year contract.
In early 2009, some baseball experts suggested Rickie should play a different position. This was because of his defensive plays. However, Rickie started the 2009 season strong with his bat. He hit five home runs in April. But on May 18, 2009, he tore a muscle in his left wrist. This injury made him miss the rest of the 2009 season.
Later Years with the Brewers (2010–2014)
In 2010, Rickie had one of his best seasons ever. He played in 160 games. He hit a career-high 29 home runs and had 83 RBIs. His batting average was .269, and he got on base a lot. He was second among all second basemen in a stat called WAR (Wins Above Replacement). This stat helps measure how valuable a player is. He also led the National League in at-bats and times hit by a pitch.
On February 16, 2011, Rickie signed a new contract with the Brewers for four years. Fans voted Rickie to be the starting second baseman for the National League in the 2011 MLB All-Star Game. This was a big honor!
In July, Rickie sprained his ankle badly. He was out until September. When he came back, his hitting was not as strong. But on September 27, he hit one of the longest home runs ever at Miller Park. It was his 20th home run of the season. He finished the regular season hitting .269 with 20 home runs.
Rickie had a slow start in 2012, but he improved later in the season. In 2013, he had a tough year with his hitting. A torn hamstring injury ended his season early in August. Another player, Scooter Gennett, took over at second base.
In 2014, Rickie played in a platoon system. This meant he would start games against left-handed pitchers. He hit .274 and got on base often. After the 2014 season, the Brewers decided not to offer him a new contract. This ended his ten years with the team.
Playing for Other Teams
Seattle Mariners (2015)
Rickie signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Mariners in February 2015. He didn't play very often. By June, he was released from the team.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2016)
In February 2016, Rickie signed a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He made their opening day roster for the 2016 season.
Tampa Bay Rays (2017)
Rickie signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in February 2017. He made their opening day roster and played first base with another player. He went on the injured list in June for a shoulder injury. He was released in July. He played 37 games for the Rays, hitting 2 home runs.
After Playing Baseball
On February 4, 2022, Rickie Weeks was hired by the Milwaukee Brewers. He became an assistant to their player development staff. This means he helps younger players learn and grow.
Rickie Weeks' Family Life
Rickie Weeks married Tiphany Easterling on January 18, 2014. His parents are Richard and Valeria Weeks. Rickie's father, Richard, also played college baseball. His grandfather played baseball in the Negro leagues in the 1940s. Rickie's sister, Kaisha, was a track athlete in college. His brother, Jemile Weeks, was also drafted by the Brewers in 2005. Jemile later played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics.
In 2005, Rickie signed a deal with a sportswear company called 3N2. They even designed a special shoe for him!
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
