DREW RASMUSSEN NEWS

Progresses to four innings Rasmussen allowed three earned runs on five hits while striking out six and walking none across four innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

Impact This marked Rasmussen's second official spring start, though he completed three innings in a live batting practice session March 9. In addition to impressively striking out six batters, his was something of a milestone for Rasmussen as he hadn't completed more than two innings since May of 2023 due to an elbow injury. Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Rasmussen is operating as a starter, but it remains unclear how the Rays will sort out their starting rotation to begin the season.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Two innings in spring debut Rasmussen threw two scoreless innings allowing one hit and one walk in Monday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.

Impact Rasmussen has dealt with elbow injuries across the last two seasons, severely limiting his innings. However, he's still being stretched out as a starter this spring and managed 29 pitches in his exhibition season debut. Per Adam Berry of MLB.com, manager Kevin Cash has stated the team will use common sense when monitoring Rasmussen's workload, which could mean he is initially used in shorter stints or his turn through the rotation is occasionally skipped.

MARCH 6 • ROTOWIRE

Prepping as starter Rasmussen threw live batting practice Wednesday and is preparing for the season as a starter, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Rasmussen has been limited to only 24 total appearances across the last two seasons due to elbow issues, and he didn't pitch more than two innings in any outing in 2024 after returning to the mound in early August. However, he'll be set to work on a five-day starter's schedule throughout spring, something he believes will keep him healthier rather than potentially pitching back-to-back days out of the bullpen. The Rays have seven potential starters, so it is unclear how they will craft their rotation to begin the 2025 campaign.

FEBRUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Rays finalize 2-year extension with Rasmussen TAMPA, Fla. -- The Rays have finalized a two-year contract extension with Drew Rasmussen, giving the right-hander some financial certainty a...

JANUARY 7 • MLB.COM

Drew Rasmussen and Rays agree to $8.5M, 2-year deal that could be worth $28M over 3 seasons

Right-hander Drew Rasmussen and the Tampa Bay Rays avoided salary arbitration, agreeing to an $8.5 million, two-year contract that could be worth up to $28 million over three seaso...

JANUARY 7 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Agrees to contract extension The Rays and Rasmussen avoided arbitration Tuesday by agreeing to a two-year, $8 million contract extension, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The deal also includes an $8 million club option for 2027 which could escalate to as high as $20 million if Rasmussen reaches all of his health and innings pitched incentives. There's a $500,000 buyout attached to the option, so the right-hander is guaranteed a total of $8.5 million with the extension. Rasmussen looked sharp in 2024 in his return from an internal brace procedure, holding a 2.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 35:6 K:BB over 28.2 innings. He is expected to return to the rotation full-time in 2025, although he will have significant workload restrictions in place after totaling just 80.2 frames since the start of the 2023 season.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Earns two-inning save Rasmussen earned the save against the Blue Jays on Saturday, striking out three over two perfect innings.

Impact Rasmussen totaled 28 pitches over two innings and earned his first save since 2021. The 29-year-old has posted a 2.55 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 29:6 K:BB across 24.2 innings this season while working as an opener and reliever.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Jonathan Aranda homers as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2

Jonathan Aranda homered for the second consecutive game, helping Taj Bradley and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Story homers and scores winning run as Red Sox beat Rays 2-1

Trevor Story homered in the sixth inning then scored the winning run on Jarren Duran’s single in the eighth as the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays face the Guardians with 2-0 series lead

The Tampa Bay Rays bring a 2-0 advantage into the next game of the series against the Cleveland Guardians

SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Opening Saturday Rasmussen will serve as the Rays' opener for Saturday's game versus the Guardians, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Rasmussen has put up a 2.79 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 19.1 innings this season, and he'll now be entrusted with at least the first three batters of Saturday's contest, though most of his appearances this season have lasted two full innings. Tyler Alexander is expected to handle bulk-relief duties once Rasmussen exits.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Takes first loss Rasmussen (0-1) allowed one earned run in two hits and a walk while striking out one to take the loss against the Phillies.

Impact Rasmussen has pitched in a multi-inning relief role since being activated from the injured list Aug. 7. He has been effective the majority of the time, turning in eight scoreless appearances in 11 chances while also tallying two holds. Even in Wednesday's loss, Rasmussen wasn't hit particularly hard as he surrendered two singles to account for the majority of the damage against him.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Serving as opener Wednesday Rasmussen will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.

Impact Rasmussen will be making his third start of the season, but as was the case on the previous two occasions, he'll likely be limited to one or two innings. Tyler Alexander is expected to be deployed as a bulk reliever behind Rasmussen.

AUGUST 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Mariners and Rays play to determine series winner

The Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays meet on Wednesday with the winner claiming the three-game series

AUGUST 28, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Carlson hits RBI single in 12th and Rays outlast Diamondbacks 8-7 after blowing 6-run lead

Dylan Carlson hit an RBI single in the 12th inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-7 to complete a three-game sweep after blowing a six-run lead

AUGUST 18, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tampa Bay Rays lose combined no-hitter in 7th inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks

The Tampa Bay Rays lost their bid for a combined no-hitter when Arizona’s Corbin Carroll hit a leadoff single against Tyler Alexander in the seventh inning

AUGUST 18, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays look to sweep 3-game series against the Diamondbacks

The Tampa Bay Rays will aim to sweep a three-game series with a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks

AUGUST 18, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Opening Sunday Rasmussen will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Sunday against Arizona, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Rasmussen will make his second start of the season Sunday, though he's expected to pitch just one or two innings before handing the ball off to Tyler Alexander. Rasmussen has yielded no runs in two of his three appearances since being activated from the 60-day IL.

AUGUST 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Serving as opener Saturday Rasmussen is slated to serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Orioles.

Impact After returning from the 60-day injured list Wednesday upon completing his recovery from the internal brace procedure he underwent last July, Rasmussen was summoned from the bullpen later that evening and was electric in his 2024 MLB debut, striking out three Cardinals batters over two perfect innings. Though the Rays intend to have Rasmussen slot back into the rotation in 2025, he's expected to be limited mostly to 1-to-2-inning appearances coming out of the bullpen for the rest of the current season. Though he's technically starting Saturday, Rasmussen is unlikely to work more than once through the batting order before turning the game over to lefty Tyler Alexander, who is expected to operate as a bulk reliever.

AUGUST 10, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Orioles face the Rays leading series 1-0

The Baltimore Orioles bring a 1-0 lead into the next game of the series against the Tampa Bay Rays

AUGUST 10, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays reinstate RHP Drew Rasmussen from 60-day IL The Tampa Bay Rays activated right-hander Drew Rasmussen from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.Rasmussen, who has not pitched in the majors...

AUGUST 7, 2024 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Cleared for '24 debut with Tampa The Rays reinstated Rasmussen (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Impact Rasmussen is expected to vie for a spot in the Tampa Bay rotation in 2025, but he'll be operating as a reliever down the stretch of the current season while he makes his return from the internal brace procedure he underwent last July. Though Rasmussen had a pair of Tommy John surgeries on his resume before he underwent his latest elbow operation last summer, he didn't seem to have much trouble regaining velocity or control during his rehab assignment. Over his five appearances at Triple-A Durham, Rasmussen gave up seven runs on 11 hits over 7.1 innings, but his 8:0 K:BB was encouraging. He's expected to operate as a one- or two-inning reliever for the Rays and could be eased back in with low-leverage work, though he could eventually push for usage in higher-leverage spots.

AUGUST 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Set for activation Wednesday The Rays will activate Rasmussen (elbow) from the 60-day injured list prior to Wednesday's game in St. Louis, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Rasmussen has completed the long rehab from an internal brace procedure on his right elbow and is slated to serve as a 1-to-2 inning reliever for the Rays down the stretch, per Topkin. The right-hander allowed seven runs over 7.1 innings on his rehab assignment but also had an 8:0 K:BB and touched the upper-90s on the radar gun. While the Rays will manage Rasmussen's workload in the final two months as a reliever this season, the plan is to return him to a starting role in 2025.

AUGUST 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Nearing return Rasmussen (elbow) is getting close to his return from the injured list, MLB.com reports.

Impact Rasmussen made his fifth rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Saturday and completed two innings while allowing two runs. Despite allowing seven earned runs across his last 3.1 frames, the Rays are expected to activate him in the coming week. Rasmussen is set to work out of the bullpen.

AUGUST 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Throwing heat on rehab assignment Rasmussen (elbow) gave up one hit and struck out a batter over a scoreless inning during his rehab appearance Wednesday with Triple-A Durham.

Impact Rasmussen has tossed a pair of scoreless frames over his first two rehab outings with Durham and doesn't seem to be showing any signs of rust as he makes his way back from the internal brace procedure he underwent on his right elbow July 24, 2023. Not only has he yet to issue a walk, but he's also been flashing premium velocity on his rehab assignment; six of his 16 pitches Wednesday clocked in at over 96 miles per hour, and he maxed out at 98.3 mph. Though the Rays envision Rasmussen slotting back into the rotation in 2025, he'll be joining the big club as a reliever this season once he's activated from the 60-day injured list.

JULY 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE