Life Before The Show
Second baseman Rickie Weeks, drafted No. 2 overall by the Brewers in 2003, is one of baseball's top prospects. The 22-year-old Daytona Beach native began the season with the Triple A Nashville Sounds, and he was hitting .339 with seven homers and 28 RBIs in 34 games through Sunday. As he waits for his major league call-up, Weeks shares his thoughts and experiences with SI Players.
I WAS excited coming off spring training with the Brewers. I got to know veterans like Junior Spivey, Geoff Jenkins and Carlos Lee. Their advice to me: Don't lose focus, keep working, and good things will happen. Of course, I would have loved to have made the big league roster, but the Brewers were straightforward with me and said if I continued to improve and develop at Triple A, I could be called up soon.
Even though I'm not a country music fan, I'm settling in nicely here in Nashville. I live in a one-bedroom apartment in the Old Hickory neighborhood, on the Cumberland River near where President Andrew Jackson lived. My apartment is a mess. Bags and clothes are all over the floor, but that's O.K.: I'm not home much. We're on the road every other week, and even though I don't have much free time, I've had the chance to see some pretty cool places like Oklahoma City and New Orleans, which was the best. I usually try to get a feel for the city and then find a gym to get a quick workout.
When I'm not at the ballpark or traveling, I like to hang with my good friend and teammate, Prince Fielder. We go to the mall a lot, and the other day I saw Crash, which was the best movie I've seen all year. I also go out to eat a lot, but I'm really trying to learn how to cook. I can make great pork chops and pretty good steak.
Of course, now and then I'll turn on SportsCenter and see how the Brewers are doing. I'm having a great experience here. I know that I don't really have control over when I get called up. The only thing I can do is play hard.
COLOR PHOTO
MIKE STRASINGER (WEEKS BUNTING)
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DANNY TURNER (WEEKS WRITING)