Rob Rasmussen

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Rob Rasmussen

| image = Rob Rasmussen on July 20, 2014.jpg

| image_size = 240

| caption = Rasmussen with the Buffalo Bisons

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|4|2}}

| birth_place = Pasadena, California, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Left

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = May 20

| debutyear = 2014

| debutteam = Toronto Blue Jays

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = September 30

| finalyear = 2015

| finalteam = Seattle Mariners

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 2–1

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 7.09

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 30

| teams =

Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2014}}–{{mlby|2015}})
Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2015}})

}}

Robert Paul Rasmussen (born April 2, 1989) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners. Prior to his professional career, Rasmussen attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and played college baseball for the UCLA Bruins.

Early life

Rasmussen is a native of Arcadia, California. He attended Clairbourn School and then Polytechnic School in Pasadena, California.{{cite web|first=Dan |last=Arritt |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-20-sp-hsbasenotes20-story.html |title=Top Playoff Teams Really Pitch In |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 20, 2004 |access-date=December 4, 2013}} He established himself as an elite high school prospect despite attending a small high school with only 360 students.{{cite news |last=Sondheimer |first=Eric |date=April 14, 2007 |title=This 20-strikeout pitcher thrives at a small school |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-sp-sondcol14apr14,1,3009219.story?CFID=27392991&CFTOKEN=60972977 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-01-08 |work=Los Angeles Times}} 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{{frac|2|3}} 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.{{cite web |title=Player Bio: Rob Rasmussen |url=https://uclabruins.com/sports/baseball/roster/rob-rasmussen/4364 |accessdate=2025-01-08 |website=UCLA Official Athletic Site}}

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. 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{{frac|2|3}} innings. Rasmussen started for UCLA in the NCAA Regional Final against Cal State Fullerton.{{cite web |author=Norwood |first=Robyn |date=June 3, 2008 |title=Titans change look, get same results |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/news/story?id=3423636&campaign=rsssrch&source=robyn_norwood |access-date=September 4, 2012 |website=ESPN}}

File:Rasmussen Cape Cod.jpg

During the summers of 2008 and 2009, Rasmussen pitched for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League. 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 a 1.80 ERA.{{cite web |title=#5 Rob Rasmussen |url=http://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=397834&seasonid=21914 |accessdate=July 20, 2021 |website=pointstreak.com}}{{cite web |author= |date= |title=2008 Orleans Cardinals |url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/summer_stats/2008~Orleans_Cardinals~CapeCod/ |accessdate=2025-01-08 |website=The Baseball Cube}}{{cite web |author= |date= |title=2009 Orleans Cardinals |url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/summer_stats/2009~Orleans_Cardinals~CapeCod/ |accessdate=2025-01-08 |website=The Baseball Cube}}

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{{frac|2|3}} innings. Rasmussen earned a victory in the Bruins' season-opener, a 13-1 win against UC Davis.

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{{frac|2|3}} 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. On April 3, Rasmussen earned his fourth win against Stanford, going 6 innings and bringing his record to 4-0 on the season.{{Cite web |title=Stanford - Stats |url=https://uclabruins.com/sports/2010/4/3/Stats_12971 |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=UCLA |language=en}}

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{{frac|1|3}} 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."{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?topic_id=8080130&content_id=7200779 |title=2010 Draft Scouting Reports | Draft Report: Rob Rasmussen, College Pitcher – Video |publisher=MLB |date=June 19, 2012 |accessdate=September 4, 2012}}

Professional career

=Miami Marlins=

File:Rob Rasmussen.jpg spring training]]

On June 8, 2010, Rasmussen was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the second round of the MLB Draft.{{cite web |date= |title=2010 MLB Draft Results Round 2 |url=http://www.mymlbdraft.com/2010/round2/ |accessdate=September 4, 2012 |website=My MLB Draft.com}}{{cite web|first=Shandel |last=Richardson |publisher=Sun Sentinel |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-07-01/sports/fl-rasmussen-marlins-cws-0702-20100701_1_ucla-coach-john-savage-ucla-baseball-trevor-bauer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706072323/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-07-01/sports/fl-rasmussen-marlins-cws-0702-20100701_1_ucla-coach-john-savage-ucla-baseball-trevor-bauer |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 6, 2010 |title=UCLA lefty Rob Rasmussen eager to join Marlins |date=July 1, 2010 |accessdate=December 4, 2013}} On July 7, 2010, he 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 High-A Jupiter Hammerheads in 2011,{{cite web |last=Marshall |first=Ashley |date=January 2, 2013 |title=Rasmussen spins first career shutout |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-22771082 |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Minor League Baseball}} with a 12-10 record and 3.64 ERA in 27 starts and 1 relief appearance.

=Houston Astros=

On July 4, 2012, Rasmussen and Matt Dominguez were traded to the Houston Astros for Carlos Lee.{{cite web |last=McTaggart |first=Brian |date=July 4, 2012 |title=Rasmussen |url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120704&content_id=34454810&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708170920/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120704&content_id=34454810&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou |archivedate=July 8, 2012 |website=MLB.com}} He was sent to the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks, where he made 10 starts.

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

On December 19, 2012, Rasmussen was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for John Ely.{{Cite web |last=Stephen |first=Eric |date=2012-12-19 |title=Dodgers trade John Ely to Astros for Rob Rasmussen |url=https://www.truebluela.com/2012/12/19/3785146/john-ely-rob-rasmussen-trade-dodgers-astros |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=True Blue LA |language=en}} 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 Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. He struggled with the Isotopes and was 0-7 with a 6.46 ERA, leading to a return to Chattanooga.

=Philadelphia Phillies=

Rasmussen was traded again, on August 31, 2013, to the Philadelphia Phillies, in exchange for Michael Young. The Phillies added Rasmussen to their 40-man roster on November 20, in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{Cite web |last=Zolecki |first=Todd |date=2013-11-20 |title=Phillies add four prospects to 40-man roster |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/phi/phillies-add-four-prospects-to-40-man-roster-protecting-them-from-rule-5-draft?ymd=20131120&content_id=64078018&vkey=news_phi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114072259/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/phi/phillies-add-four-prospects-to-40-man-roster-protecting-them-from-rule-5-draft?ymd=20131120&content_id=64078018&vkey=news_phi |archive-date=2014-01-14 |website=MLB.com}}

=Toronto Blue Jays=

On December 3, 2013, he was traded again, to the Toronto Blue Jays (along with Erik Kratz) for Brad Lincoln.{{cite web |author=Lawrence |first=Ryan |date=October 22, 2012 |title=Phillies trade C Erik Kratz and LHP Rob Rasmussen to Blue Jays for RHP Brad Lincoln |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/phillies/120313_Phillies_trade_C_Erik_Kratz_and_LHP_Rob_Rasmussen_to_Blue_Jays_for_RHP_Bran_Lincoln.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125185701/https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/phillies/120313_Phillies_trade_C_Erik_Kratz_and_LHP_Rob_Rasmussen_to_Blue_Jays_for_RHP_Bran_Lincoln.html |archive-date=2020-11-25 |accessdate=December 4, 2013 |website=Philadelphia Inquirer}} On March 10, 2014, he was optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. He was called up for his first trip to the major leagues on May 20{{cite web |last=Chisholm |first=Gregor |date=May 20, 2014 |title=Lefty Rasmussen gets first call to Majors |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/tor/blue-jays-recall-rob-rasmussen-from-buffalo?ymd=20140520&content_id=76102928&vkey=news_tor |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305141740/http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/76102928 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |work=MLB.com}} and made his debut that night, getting David Ortiz to groundout in a 7–4 win.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140520&content_id=76130536¬ebook_id=76102928&vkey=notebook_tor&c_id=tor|title=In big league debut, Rasmussen wins battle vs. Papi|last=Chisholm|first=Gregor|work=MLB.com|date=May 21, 2014|accessdate=May 21, 2014}} Rasmussen recorded his first major league strikeout on May 26, against Logan Forsythe of the Tampa Bay Rays. He was optioned back to the Bisons on May 30, and recalled on June 21 to replace Liam Hendriks.{{cite web |date=June 21, 2014 |title=Blue Jays recall Rasmussen, option Hendriks |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-call-up-rasmussen-option-hendriks/ |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |work=Sportsnet |agency=Associated Press}} Following the acquisition of Danny Valencia, Rasmussen was again optioned back to Triple-A Buffalo on July 29.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=502143|title=Blue Jays option Rasmussen, activate Valencia|last=Nicholson-Smith|first=Ben|work=Sportsnet|date=July 29, 2014|accessdate=July 29, 2014}} On June 22, 2015, Rasmussen was recalled for the first time in the 2015 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-set-to-select-contract-of-rhp-redmond/|title=Blue Jays officially promote Redmond, Rasmussen|last=Nicholson-Smith|first=Ben|work=Sportsnet|date=June 22, 2015|accessdate=June 22, 2015}} He was optioned back to Buffalo on June 26.{{cite web|url=http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/update/25226400/blue-jays-matt-boyd-called-up-from-triple-a-will-start-saturday|title=Blue Jays' Matt Boyd called up from Triple-A, will start Saturday|last=Lempert|first=Jason|work=fantasynews.cbssports.com|date=June 26, 2015|accessdate=June 26, 2015}}

=Seattle Mariners=

On July 31, 2015, Rasmussen was traded with Nick Wells and Jake Brentz to the Seattle Mariners for Mark Lowe.{{cite web|url=http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/140108866|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802172456/http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/140108866|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 2, 2015|title=Blue Jays boost bullpen, deal for Lowe|last=Chisholm|first=Gregor|work=MLB.com|date=July 31, 2015|accessdate=July 31, 2015}} He was designated for assignment by the Mariners on December 14, 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/12/mariners-rob-rasmussen-dfa.html|title=Mariners Designate Rob Rasmussen For Assignment|last=Adams|first=Steve|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=December 14, 2015|accessdate=December 15, 2015}}

=Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim=

On December 23, 2015, Rasmussen was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/12/angels-claim-bobby-lafromboise-rob-rasmussen-outright-a-j-achter-release-rafael-lopez.html|title=Angels Claim Bobby LaFromboise, Rob Rasmussen; Outright A.J. Achter, Release Rafael Lopez|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=December 23, 2015|accessdate=December 23, 2015}} On March 15, 2016, it was reported that Rasmussen had decided to retire, and pursue a business degree.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rob-rasmussen-elects-to-retire/|title=Rob Rasmussen: Elects to retire|work=cbssports.com|date=March 15, 2016|accessdate=March 15, 2016}}