Rob Rasmussen

Rob Rasmussen
Rasmussen in spring training with the Dodgers.
Toronto Blue Jays
Pitcher
Born: (1989-04-02) April 2, 1989 Pasadena, California
Bats: Left	Throws: Left

Robert Paul Rasmussen (born April 2, 1989) is a 5'11" left-handed professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team. He played college baseball at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Early life

Rasmussen is a native of Arcadia, California. He attended Polytechnic School in Pasadena, California.^[1] He established himself as an elite high school prospect despite attending a small high school with only 360 high school students.^[2] As a four-year starter for the varsity baseball team at Polytechnic, Rasmussen compiled a 38-2 record and 1.04 ERA, recording 492 strikeouts in 248.2 innings over his career. Rasmussen earned further attention from professional and collegiate baseball scouts while playing in the Babe Ruth League between high school seasons, pitching for three Babe Ruth World Series championship teams and posting a 17-0 record.^[3]

Collegiate career

After being selected in the 27th round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Rasmussen decided to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to play college baseball for the UCLA Bruins. In his first season at UCLA, Rasmussen made only 10 appearances and 2 starts after sustaining a broken left foot off a line drive comebacker in the third inning of his 2008 collegiate debut against UC Santa Barbara.^[3] After recovering from his injury at the end of the 2008 season, Rasmussen finished with a 5.60 ERA and 0-2 record in 17.2 innings. Rasmussen started for UCLA in the NCAA Regional Final against Cal State Fullerton.^[4]

Rasmussen at the 2009 Cape Cod All Star Game

During the summers of 2008 and 2009, Rasmussen pitched for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League.^[5] After going 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA in his first three starts for the Orleans Firebirds in the summer of 2009, Rasmussen was selected to start on the mound in the Cape Cod League All-Star game at Fenway Park on July 23, 2009. He finished the Cape Cod season going 4-0 with an 1.80 ERA.^[6]

During the 2009 season, Rasmussen made 18 appearances, posted a record of 4-2 with a 6.75 ERA, while totaling 51 strikeouts and 26 walks in 44.2 innings. Rasmussen earned a victory in the Bruins' season-opener, a 13-1 win against UC Davis.^[3]

Rasmussen earned a no-decision for his start in the ongoing 2010 season opener for the Bruins, striking out six batters and giving up just one earned run in 4.2 innings against rival Southern Cal. On March 6, he earned a win against Nebraska in the finale of a 3-game series, recording 10 strikeouts in five innings as the Bruins starter, limiting the Huskers to one unearned run and three hits.^[7] On April 3, Rasmussen earned his fourth win against Stanford, going 6 innings and bringing his record to 4-0 on the season.^[8]

His Sunday pitching contributed in making the 2010 team the best UCLA baseball team (51-17 record) in school history and the second best team in the country. The team went on to play in the 2010 College World Series and was defeated by South Carolina in the NCAA Championship Series. Rasmussen went 11-3 with a 2.72 ERA, collecting 128 strikeouts in 109.1 innings.

According to the Under Armour 2010 Draft Scouting Report: "Rasmussen is a pretty advanced college lefty with an interesting combination of pitchability and stuff. He has four pitches he's around the plate with, though he does need to be a little more efficient with his pitches. He's a bit undersized, which might concern some, but he does a nice job mixing his pitches and keeping hitters guessing. If the spike in velocity he showed early in the spring is still around all season, he could sneak even further up Draft boards."^[9]

Professional career

On June 8, 2010, Rasmussen was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the second round of the MLB Draft.^[10][11] On July 7, 2010, Rob officially signed his first pro contract with the Marlins. He made his debut for Class-A Greensboro (South Atlantic League). He subsequently pitched for the A+ Jupiter Hammerheads in 2011,^[12] with a 12-10 record and 3.64 ERA in 27 starts and 1 relief appearance.

On July 4, 2012, Rasmussen and Matt Dominguez were traded to the Houston Astros for Carlos Lee.^[13] He was sent to the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks, where he made 10 starts.

On December 19, 2012, Rasmussen was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for John Ely.^[14] The Dodgers assigned him to the Chattanooga Lookouts for the 2013 season, where he made 11 starts and was 3-3 with a 2.42 ERA. He was selected to the Southern League All-Star team but was unable to play because he was promoted to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes. He struggled with the Isotopes and was 0-7 with a 6.46 ERA, leading to a return to Chattanooga.

Rasmussen was traded again, on August 31, 2013, to the Philadelphia Phillies, in exchange for Michael Young. He was added to the Phillies 40-man roster on November 20, 2013.^[15] On December 3, 2013, he was traded again, to the Toronto Blue Jays (along with Eric Kratz) for Brad Lincoln.^[16]

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)