Rickie Weeks
Milwaukee Brewers – No. 23
Second baseman
Born: (1982-09-13) September 13, 1982 (age 42)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
September 15, 2003, for the Milwaukee Brewers
Career statistics (through 2011)
Batting average	.255
Home runs	109
Runs	523
Runs batted in	314
Stolen bases	100
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
Milwaukee Brewers (2003–present)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star (2011)

Rickie Darnell Weeks (born September 13, 1982, in Daytona Beach, Florida) is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Weeks bats and throws right-handed. Until the 2009 season, Weeks had a distinctive batting stance similar to that of Gary Sheffield, waggling his bat heavily before swinging. The waggle is still present, but noticeably less aggressive. Weeks pointed to this change when asked about his improved presence at the plate in 2009.

Weeks was born in Daytona Beach, Florida. He is the son of Richard and Valeria Weeks. His sister Kaisha was an NCAA Regional Finalist at Southern University in track.^[1] Weeks's brother Jemile Weeks was drafted by the Brewers in 2005 out of high school, but never signed with them, choosing to attend the University of Miami instead. The Oakland Athletics drafted Jemile in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft twelfth overall.^[2] He is currently their starting second baseman.

In 2005, Weeks signed a sponsorship contract with sportswear company 3N2, which designed a shoe for him. In 2009, Weeks was voted "Sexiest Baseball Player" by Cosmopolitan Magazine.^[3]

Weeks attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As a sophomore in 2002, he batted .495 with 20 home runs, winning the NCAA Division I batting title. The next year, he batted .479 with 16 home runs, winning a second straight batting title and finishing his career with a .473 batting average, highest in NCAA history. In 2003 he also was named Baseball America College Player of the Year and the Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the top amateur player. The Milwaukee Brewers selected him second overall in the 2003 MLB Draft.^[4]

He made his major league debut on September 15, 2003, soon after inking a contract which included a $3.6 million signing bonus.

Weeks did not become a full-time player for the Brewers until June 2005, when he was recalled from Triple-A Nashville, despite playing much of the 2005 season with a thumb injury. In his first full MLB season in 2005, Weeks had a batting average of .239 to go with 13 home runs and 15 stolen bases in 96 games. These HR/SB number are consistent with his minor league totals (playing in 209 games) of 21 home runs and 24 stolen bases. In 2006, Weeks hit .279 with 8 home runs, 34 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases in 95 games.

Weeks returned to the Nashville Sounds on July 31, 2007, since he was batting below .200 after returning from a wrist injury.^[5]

In 2007, he had the lowest fielding percentage of all NL second basemen (.976), and the lowest zone rating among all major league second basemen, .737. His target at first base was Prince Fielder, who finished 2007 last of all eligible major league first basemen in range factor (8.49), and first in errors (14).^[6]

In 2008, he had the lowest fielding percentage (.975) and the most errors (15) of all NL second basemen.^[7] On offense, however, Weeks scored 46.6% of the time he reached base, second-best in the NL.[3]

In Game 1 of the 2008 NL Division Series, Weeks made a key error in the third inning that led to three unearned runs scored by the Phillies in Philadelphia's 3–1 victory. In Game 3, Weeks injured his knee while trying to beat out a throw at first base. He underwent surgery the next day to remove torn cartilage from his left knee.[4]

On February 3, 2009, Weeks and the Brewers reached a 1-year deal worth $2.45 million, thereby avoiding salary arbitration. Weeks can earn an additional $100,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances from 575 to 650.^[8]

In early 2009, sabermetrician Bill James wrote in John Dewan's "The Fielding Bible Volume II," that Weeks should be moved to a position other than second base. James said Weeks led the majors at his position in a category he calls defensive misplays (which does not include errors), with 44. An average second baseman has 28 defensive misplays a season. Dewan ranked Weeks the worst starting second baseman in the majors.[5]

On May 18, 2009, Weeks was diagnosed with a torn muscle in his left hand, and declared himself out for the 2009 season. Recovery time is 4–6 months.

On June 12, 2010, Weeks tallied his 500th hit at Miller Park and received a standing ovation. He was later thrown out attempting to steal third base. Weeks finished with a career-high 29 home runs and 83 RBIs. He led the NL in at bats (651), (plate appearances (754), and hit by pitch (25), and was second in runs scored (112).^[9]

On February 16, 2011, Weeks signed a contract extension for 4 years at 38 million dollars. The deal includes an option for a 5th year provided Weeks is an everyday player in 2013 and 2014, and could raise the total value of the contract to 50 million dollars.^[10] Weeks was voted by the fans to be the starting second baseman for the National League in the 2011 All-Star Game.

He saw a drop in offensive production statistically, though this was due to a severe ankle sprain he sustained while legging out an infield single in July. Weeks was placed on the DL for nearly 2 months before he was able to play full time again.

On September 27, in the second to last game of the regular season, Weeks hit one of the longest home runs ever hit at Miller Park. It was his first home run since his return from the DL, and his 20th of the season.

In the 2011 regular season, he batted .269 with 20 home runs.^[9] On defense, he led the NL in errors by a second baseman for the fourth season, with 25, and his .969 fielding percentage was the lowest of all major league starting second basemen.^[9][11]

• 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

• Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
• Rickie Weeks Interview at Baseball Digest Daily – April 2005

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