The Astros released outfielder Rick Ankiel, tweets Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. The team had designated him for assignment Monday.
Ankiel, 33, had an all-or-nothing approach this year that led to five home runs and 35 strikeouts in 65 plate appearances. A former second-round pick of the Cardinals, Ankiel finished second in the 2000 Rookie of the Year voting as a pitcher but later reinvented himself as a slugging outfielder in 2007. A left-handed hitter, he has a career slugging percentage of .445 against righties.
We're still awaiting word on outfielder Fernando Martinez, who was designated by the Astros at the same time as Ankiel.
