Jupiter, Fla. ? With pitching out of his blood, Rick Ankiel is committed to working his way back to the big leagues as an outfielder.

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has no doubts Ankiel can accomplish his goal.

“He’s got enough talent to be a star,” La Russa said. “He runs well, he’s got a good arm and he’s got a terrific swing and live bat. Oh yeah, absolutely. Star.”

Ankiel, 27, is starting over – again – this spring, attempting to overcome a knee injury that kept him from playing in 2006.

Ankiel arrived at the Cardinals’ complex, which happens to be in his hometown, after signing a minor-league contract.

“I want to come out and stay healthy and get as many at-bats as I can,” Ankiel said. “Regardless of where they send me, I’m just going to go out there and try to put up some numbers.

St. Louis cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel sits on the front of a golf cart while waiting his turn in the batting cage during practice Sunday. Ankiel, a former pitcher, is attempting a comeback as a position player.

“I believe in my outfield ability. Baseball is fun again,” he added. “It’s better than any job I can think of that I would do. Pretty much, at this point, they will have to kick me out.”

Ankiel says he is happier than he has been since losing his command and, ultimately, his pitching career.

Ankiel was runner-up in the 2000 rookie of the year voting after going 11-7 with a 3.50 ERA. But a sudden bout of wildness in the postseason led to 11 walks in four innings.

“It was tough,” Ankiel said. “It seemed to be affecting me personally. Going home, or anything away from the field, it was affecting me just as if it was here. That’s no way to live.”

Finally, Ankiel announced his “retirement” from pitching during spring training of 2005, concentrating on making it as an outfielder.

“The day this guy is a legitimate major leaguer, there are going to be a lot of people who will celebrate that occurrence,” La Russa said. “I mean teammates, fans who understand what he’s gone through.”

Ankiel has played in 85 games, none higher than double-A, since stepping off the mound for the final time.

Still, the Cardinals are enamored with his athletic ability.

He hit .259 with 21 home runs in 321 at bats at Springfield and Quad Cities in 2005 before sitting out 2006.

The Cardinals outfield is set with Jim Edmonds, Juan Encarnacion, Chris Duncan, Preston Wilson and So Taguchi in the top five spots. Offseason surgeries, though, will delay Edmonds’ and Encarnacion’s spring debuts, giving Ankiel extra playing time to impress during Grapefruit League games.

“He looks like he’s ready for the type of pitching he’s going to see,” hitting coach Hal McRae said. “A lot of times you see young players, first-year players, they might have a lot of ability but you know the bat has to catch up to the competition.

“It appears his bat is ready for the competition.”