Rasmussen was a big part of Oregon State's pitching staff as a freshman in 2015 and at the start of the 2016 season, though he needed Tommy John surgery in March of that year. After returning in late April in 2017 and pitching well in short stints, the Rays took the right-hander with the 31st pick in the Draft. Citing discrepancies between the pre-Draft and post-Draft MRIs, the Rays didn't sign Rasmussen. He was set to return to the Beavers' pitching staff when he required a second TJ surgery in September, missing the entire season. The Brewers, believing that Rasmussen would make a full recovery, selected him in the sixth round of the 2018 Draft and signed him for $135,000. Making his pro debut in 2019, Rasmussen rewarded the organization by ascending three levels to Double-A within the first month of the season.
Fully healthy after a pair of TJ surgeries, Rasmussen has returned to showcase an impressive mix of power offerings despite being limited by the Brewers both in his pitch count and overall workload. His fastball registers in the mid-to-upper 90s with riding life, giving him the ability to beat hitters inside the zone. He pairs his heater with a hard slider at 88-91 mph, while his changeup in the upper 80s gives him another very effective secondary offering, albeit with room for improvement. His feel for pitching has returned faster than initially expected, and he's impressed in 2019 with his ability to both throw strikes and generate whiffs.
With three effective pitches and a starter's delivery, Rasmussen has the ingredients to be effective in the role so long as he stays healthy. But after two elbow surgeries, it's fair to wonder whether the right-hander might ultimately end up in the bullpen, where his stuff stands to play up and he has the potential to reach the Majors at an accelerated pace. Transactions Team Date Transaction 09/15/2019 Biloxi Shuckers activated RHP Drew Rasmussen from the 7-day injured list. 09/08/2019 Biloxi Shuckers placed RHP Drew Rasmussen on the 7-day injured list. 05/08/2019 RHP Drew Rasmussen assigned to Biloxi Shuckers from Carolina Mudcats. 04/16/2019 RHP Drew Rasmussen assigned to Carolina Mudcats from Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. 04/12/2019 RHP Drew Rasmussen assigned to Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. 06/21/2018 Milwaukee Brewers signed RHP Drew Rasmussen.
