Cory Rasmus

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Cory Rasmus

| image = Cory Rasmus (14600946787) (cropped).jpg

| image_size = 260

| caption = Rasmus with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2014

| width =

| team =

| number =

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|11|6}}

| birth_place = Columbus, Georgia, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = May 22

| debutyear = 2013

| debutteam = Atlanta Braves

|finalleague=MLB

|finaldate=October 1

|finalyear=2016

|finalteam=Los Angeles Angels

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 4–5

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 4.17

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 121

| teams =

Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|2013}})
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels ({{mlby|2013}}–{{mlby|2016}})

}}

Cory Taylor Rasmus (born November 6, 1987) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels.

Professional career

=Atlanta Braves=

Rasmus was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft out of Russell County High School. The Braves added him to their 40-man roster after the 2012 season.{{cite web|url=http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121120&content_id=40372518&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128051611/http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121120&content_id=40372518&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 28, 2012|title=Bethancourt among five added to Braves' 40-man|last=Bowman|first=Mark|publisher=atlanta.braves.com|date=November 20, 2012|access-date=May 22, 2012}}

Rasmus played for the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves until he was called up to the Braves on May 18, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2013/05/18/2508696/atlanta-braves-call-up-cory-rasmus.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629155137/http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2013/05/18/2508696/atlanta-braves-call-up-cory-rasmus.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 29, 2013|title=Update:Braves call up Cory Rasmus; his debut will have to wait|last1=Price|first1=Kevin|last2=Mitchell|first2=David|publisher=Ledger-Enquirer.com|date=May 18, 2013|access-date=May 20, 2013}} He made his major league debut on May 22, 2013, working one and two-thirds innings, and striking out three while giving up home runs to Aaron Hicks and Oswaldo Arcia.{{cite web|url=http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2013/05/22/2513370/cory-rasmus-makes-major-league.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629183112/http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2013/05/22/2513370/cory-rasmus-makes-major-league.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 29, 2013|title=Update: Cory Rasmus talks about making his Major League debut for Atlanta Braves|work=Columbus Ledger-Enquirer|date=May 22, 2013|access-date=May 27, 2013|first=Kevin|last=Price}}

On May 27, 2013, Cory pitched to his older brother Colby Rasmus for the first time in an MLB game. Colby hit a double.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/oh-brothers-colby-rasmus-doubles-against-cory-rasmus-185716514.html|title=Oh, brothers: Colby Rasmus doubles against Cory Rasmus in rare fraternal matchup|date=May 28, 2013|access-date=June 1, 2013|work=Yahoo! Sports}} This was the first time that one brother pitched to another brother in the MLB since June 13, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300613119|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617065455/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300613119|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 17, 2010|title=Angels handle crosstown rival to wrap up 14-game road trip|date=June 13, 2010|access-date=June 1, 2013|agency=Associated Press}}

He was optioned back to Gwinnett on May 29 when Jordan Walden was activated from the disabled list.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/atlanta-activates-rhp-jordan-walden-from-dl-sends-rhp-cory-rasmus-back-to-triple-a-gwinnett/2013/05/29/397e2de2-c89a-11e2-9cd9-3b9a22a4000a_story.html|title=Atlanta activates RHP Jordan Walden from DL, sends RHP Cory Rasmus back to Triple-A Gwinnett|newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 29, 2013|access-date=May 29, 2013|agency=Associated Press}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

=Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels=

On July 29, 2013, Rasmus was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for Scott Downs.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130729&content_id=55160492&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl|title=Braves get their lefty reliever, trade for Downs|first=Mark|last=Bowman|work=MLB.com|date=July 30, 2013|access-date=November 9, 2013}} He was then optioned to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees.{{cite web|url=http://www.sacbee.com/2013/07/30/5609940/tuesdays-sports-transactions.html|title=Tuesday's Sports Transactions|date=July 30, 2013|access-date=July 30, 2013|work=The Associated Press|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130731103855/http://www.sacbee.com/2013/07/30/5609940/tuesdays-sports-transactions.html|archive-date=July 31, 2013}} He was called up on August 23.{{cite web|url=http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2013/08/23/2650351/angels-call-up-cory-rasmus.html|title=Angels call up Cory Rasmus|date=August 23, 2013|access-date=August 24, 2013|work=Ledger-Enquirer|first=Kevin|last=Price|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110012215/http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2013/08/23/2650351/angels-call-up-cory-rasmus.html|archive-date=November 10, 2013}}

Rasmus started the 2014 season at Triple-A Salt Lake. He was recalled by the Angels on May 5.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140505&content_id=74426842¬ebook_id=74428000&vkey=notebook_ana&c_id=ana |title=Halos bolster bullpen with righty Rasmus |date=May 5, 2014 |access-date=May 5, 2014 |first=Alden |last=Gonzalez |work = mlb.com}} After being called up, Rasmus shifted between the bullpen and the rotation, spot starting in 6 games for the Angels. As a starter, he averaged less than 5 innings in each start. He finished the season with a 2.57 ERA in 30 games, 6 starts for the Angels. Between the 2015 and 2016 season, Rasmus hasn't shown the same level of success from his 2014 season. On July 6, 2016, it was announced by the team that Rasmus would need core muscle surgery, effectively ending his season. Rasmus was designated for assignment on November 7.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/11/angels-designate-cory-rasmus-for-assignment-2.html|title=Angels Designate Cory Rasmus For Assignment|last=Dierkes|first=Tim|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=November 7, 2016|access-date=November 7, 2016}} After clearing waivers, he was assigned to Triple-A.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/11/minor-mlb-transactions-111416.html|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 11/14/16|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=November 14, 2016|access-date=November 14, 2016}} Rasmus rejected his minor league assignment and became a free agent on November 16.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/11/cory-rasmus-elects-free-agency.html|title=Shane Robinson, Cory Rasmus Elect Free Agency|last=Adams|first=Steve|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=November 16, 2016|access-date=November 16, 2016}}

=Tampa Bay Rays=

On February 1, 2017, Rasmus signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.{{cite web|url=http://www.draysbay.com/2017/2/1/14473418/tampa-bay-rays-sign-cory-rasmus-and-david-carpenter-to-minor-league-deals|title=Tampa Bay Rays Sign Cory Rasmus and David Carpenter to Minor League Deals|last=Sanford|first=Adam|work=draysbay.com|date=February 1, 2017|access-date=February 1, 2017}} He was released on April 7, 2017.

Personal

Rasmus is the younger brother of retired center fielder Colby Rasmus.{{cite news|last1=Toman|first1=Chris|title=Colby bests Cory in Rasmus family face-off|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130528&content_id=48824402&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|access-date=July 11, 2014|work=MLB.com|date=May 28, 2013}} Both brothers played for Phenix City National Little League during the 1999 Little League World Series. Phenix City won the United States championship game,[https://web.archive.org/web/20010626173502/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/littleleague/1999/worldseries/news/1999/08/27/little_league_ap/ Phenix City Upsets Tom's River to Reach LLWS Finals], sportsillustrated.cnn.com; retrieved March 2008 before losing in the finals to Osaka, Japan, 5–0.[https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/29/sports/baseball-osaka-wins-little-league-title-game.html Osaka Wins Little League Title Game], nytimes.com; retrieved March 2008 His younger brother, Casey, was a catcher in the St. Louis Cardinals' organization until retiring in June 2014.{{cite news|last1=Karraker|first1=Patrick|title=Cardinals Minor-Leaguer Casey Rasmus Retires|url=http://archauthority.com/2014/06/11/cardinals-minor-leaguer-casey-rasmus-retires/|agency=Sports Illustrated Network|publisher=Fansided|date=June 11, 2014}} His father Tony was drafted by the Angels in 1986,{{cite news|last1=Matthews|first1=Alan|title=Rasmus Brothers Keep It In The Family|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/highschool/050302rasmus.html|access-date=July 11, 2014|publisher=Baseball America|date=March 2, 2005}} playing three seasons of minor league baseball before retiring.