| Drew Rasmussen | |
|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Rays – No. 57 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1995-07-27)July 27, 1995 (age 29) Puyallup, Washington, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 19, 2020, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 20–12 |
| Earned run average | 2.95 |
| Strikeouts | 301 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Drew Thomas Rasmussen (born July 27, 1995) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theTampa Bay Rays ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theMilwaukee Brewers, for whom he made his MLB debut in 2020.
Rasmussen attendedMt. Spokane High School inMead, Washington,[1] and later attended theOregon State University where he playedcollege baseball for theBeavers. Prior to his freshman season Rasmussen was drafted by theArizona Diamondbacks in the 39th round of the2014 MLB draft. On March 21, 2015, as a freshman, he pitched the onlyperfect game in the team's history, in a 3–0 victory over Washington State.[2] He was drafted 31st overall in the2017 Major League Baseball draft by theTampa Bay Rays[3] but did not sign.[4]
Rasmussen underwent his secondTommy John surgery in September 2017 which forced him to miss all of the 2018 season.[5][6]
Despite missing the 2018 season, Rasmussen was still drafted by theMilwaukee Brewers in the sixth round, with the 185th overall selection, of the2018 Major League Baseball draft.[7][8]
Rasmussen spent his first professional season in 2019 with the Single–AWisconsin Timber Rattlers, High–ACarolina Mudcats, and Double–ABiloxi Shuckers. In 27 games (23 starts) split between the three affiliates, he compiled a 1–3 record and 3.15 ERA with 96 strikeouts across74+1⁄3 innings pitched.[9]
On August 13, 2020, Rasmussen was selected to the40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his major league debut on August 19 against theMinnesota Twins and threw two scoreless innings. In 12 games during his debut campaign, Rasmussen posted a 5.87 ERA with 21 strikeouts across15+1⁄3 innings pitched.[10] Rasmussen began the 2021 season in the Milwaukeebullpen. He recorded a 4.24 ERA with 25 strikeouts and onesave in 15 games for the Brewers.
On May 21, 2021, the Brewers traded Rasmussen andJ. P. Feyereisen to theTampa Bay Rays in exchange forWilly Adames andTrevor Richards.[11] In 20 appearances (10 starts) down the stretch, he logged a 4–0 record and 2.44 ERA with 48 strikeouts.
Rasmussen pitched eight perfect innings before losing the perfect game in the ninth inning on August 14, 2022.[12] In 2022, Rasmussen was namedAmerican League Pitcher of the Month for August, when he registered a 3–1 record in six starts to go along with a 1.57 ERA and 33 strikeouts against only four walks.[13] He finished the 2022 season making 28 starts for the Rays, and pitched to a 11–7 record and 2.84 ERA with 125 strikeouts in 146.0 innings pitched.
Rasmussen began the 2023 season out of the Rays' rotation, making 8 starts and registering a 4–2 record and 2.62 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 44.2 innings pitched. On May 12, 2023, Rasmussen was placed on the 60-day injured list after being diagnosed with a flexor strain in his forearm.[14][15] On July 8, Rays managerKevin Cash stated that Rasmussen would undergo an internal brace procedure on his elbow and miss the remainder of the season.[16][17]
Rasmussen began the 2024 season on the Rays' 60-day injured list as he continued to recover from surgery.[18] He was activated from the injured list on August 7, 2024.[19] In 16 games (4 starts) for the Rays, Rasmussen compiled an 0-2 record and 2.83 ERA with 35 strikeouts across28+2⁄3 innings pitched. On January 6, 2025, Rasmussen and the Rays avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a two-year deal worth $8.5 million.[20]
Rasmussen and his wife, Stevie, married in 2020.[21] They had a son on September 6, 2022.[22]