Drew Rasmussen Bio
Drew Thomas Rasmussen is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed starter who has also worked out of the bullpen, he made his MLB debut in 2020 with the Milwaukee Brewers before being traded to Tampa Bay during the 2021 season. In 2025, Rasmussen was named to his first All-Star game after a standout season that showcased his talents on the mound.
Early Life and Background
Drew Thomas Rasmussen was born on July 27, 1995, and grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where he attended Mt. Spokane High School in Mead, Washington. He developed into a highly regarded pitching prospect during his high school years, drawing attention from professional scouts for his size, command, and competitive presence on the mound.
After completing high school, Rasmussen continued his baseball career at Oregon State University, where he played college baseball for the Beavers. As a freshman, he made an immediate impact on the program. On March 21, 2015, he pitched the only perfect game in Oregon State history, leading the Beavers to a 3–0 victory over Washington State. That performance cemented his reputation as one of the top college pitchers in the country.
Prior to his freshman season, Rasmussen had been drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 39th round of the 2014 MLB Draft, though he did not sign. He was later selected 31st overall in the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, but again did not sign, choosing to return to school before his path to the professional ranks was delayed by injury.
Path to Professional Baseball
Rasmussen underwent his second Tommy John surgery in September 2017, a setback that forced him to miss the entire 2018 season. Despite the injury, his talent remained highly regarded around the league. In the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft, the Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the sixth round with the 185th overall pick, officially launching his professional career.
Rasmussen spent his first professional season in 2019, working his way through the Brewers’ minor league system. He pitched for the Single-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, High-A Carolina Mudcats, and Double-A Biloxi Shuckers. Across 27 games and 23 starts split between the three affiliates, he compiled a 1–3 record and a 3.15 ERA, while striking out 96 batters in 74 and one-third innings pitched.
Drew Rasmussen Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
On August 13, 2020, Rasmussen was selected to the Milwaukee Brewers’ 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut on August 19, 2020, against the Minnesota Twins, throwing two scoreless innings in his first appearance. In 12 games during his debut campaign, he posted a 5.87 ERA with 21 strikeouts across 15 and one-third innings pitched.
Rasmussen began the 2021 season in the Milwaukee bullpen, recording a 4.24 ERA with 25 strikeouts and one save in 15 games. On May 21, 2021, the Brewers traded Rasmussen and J. P. Feyereisen to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Willy Adames and Trevor Richards, opening a new chapter in his career.
Tampa Bay Rays Breakthrough (2021–2023)
After joining the Rays in 2021, Rasmussen appeared in 20 games with 10 starts down the stretch, logging a 4–0 record and a 2.44 ERA with 48 strikeouts. The strong finish showed that he could handle a starting role at the major league level and set the stage for a more prominent role the following year.
In 2022, Rasmussen became a full-time member of the Tampa Bay rotation. He came within one out of a perfect game on August 14, 2022, retiring 24 consecutive batters before losing the perfecto in the ninth inning. He was named American League Pitcher of the Month for August after going 3–1 with a 1.57 ERA and 33 strikeouts against only four walks in six starts. He finished the 2022 season with an 11–7 record, a 2.84 ERA, and 125 strikeouts in 146 innings across 28 starts.
Rasmussen began the 2023 season strongly, making eight starts with a 4–2 record, a 2.62 ERA, and 47 strikeouts in 44 and two-thirds innings. On May 12, 2023, however, he was placed on the 60-day injured list after being diagnosed with a flexor strain in his forearm. On July 8, Rays manager Kevin Cash announced that Rasmussen would undergo an internal brace procedure on his elbow and miss the remainder of the season.
Return and All-Star Season (2024–2025)
Rasmussen began the 2024 season on the Rays’ 60-day injured list as he continued to recover from surgery. He was activated on August 7, 2024, and went on to appear in 16 games with 4 starts, compiling an 0–2 record, a 2.83 ERA, and 35 strikeouts across 28 and two-thirds innings. On January 6, 2025, he and the Rays avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a two-year deal worth $8.5 million.
His strong 2025 form earned Rasmussen his first career All-Star selection. He was named an All-Star on July 11, replacing Los Angeles Angels pitcher Yusei Kikuchi on the active roster. The honor reflected his emergence as one of the most reliable arms in the American League.
2026 Season and Beyond
Rasmussen was the Rays’ Opening Day starter in 2026, reinforcing his standing as a frontline pitcher for the franchise. He continued to anchor the rotation while logging significant innings and strikeout totals for the club.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rasmussen is known for his command, poise, and ability to generate swings and misses with a balanced three-pitch mix. His experience as both a starter and a reliever has given him a flexible arsenal, allowing him to adjust his approach based on game situation and opposing lineups. His competitiveness and ability to miss bats have made him a valuable piece of the Rays’ pitching staff.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most memorable achievements are pitching a perfect game as a freshman at Oregon State, taking a perfect game into the ninth inning for the Rays in August 2022, earning American League Pitcher of the Month honors that same month, and being selected to his first MLB All-Star Game in 2025. He was also tapped as Tampa Bay’s Opening Day starter in 2026, underscoring his role as a leader of the rotation.
Drew Rasmussen Career Wins
Rasmussen’s career has been defined more by consistency, durability, and All-Star recognition than by sheer win totals. Across his time with the Brewers and Rays, he has established himself as a reliable arm capable of pitching deep into games and missing bats at a high rate.
MLB Highlights
Through his MLB career, Rasmussen has put together multiple strong seasons, highlighted by his 2022 campaign, when he went 11–7 with a 2.84 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 28 starts for Tampa Bay. He went 4–0 with a 2.44 ERA in 20 appearances after being traded to the Rays in 2021, and he continued to produce quality outings in 2025, when he earned his first All-Star nod.
Other Performances
In the minor leagues, Rasmussen split 2019 between Single-A Wisconsin, High-A Carolina, and Double-A Biloxi, finishing with a 3.15 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 74 and one-third innings. At the college level, he cemented his legacy at Oregon State with the only perfect game in program history, a 3–0 victory over Washington State in 2015.
Drew Rasmussen Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Rasmussen and his wife, Stevie, were married in 2020. The couple welcomed their first child, a son, in September 2022, and their second child in April 2026. His family life has been a steady presence alongside his professional career, and he has spoken about the importance of family in supporting his work on and off the field.
2025 Season Performance
Rasmussen’s 2025 season represented the most decorated year of his career to that point. Building on his recovery from elbow surgery, he returned to full strength and delivered consistent performances for the Rays, working deep into games and missing bats at a high rate. His success on the mound helped anchor a Rays rotation that relied on his reliability.
On July 11, 2025, he was named to the All-Star Game as a replacement for Angels pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, earning his first All-Star selection and cementing his status among the American League’s top pitchers. The recognition reflected a season in which he posted quality start after quality start while serving as a stabilizing presence in Tampa Bay’s pitching staff.
Heading into 2026, Rasmussen’s All-Star breakthrough positioned him as the clear leader of the Rays’ rotation. He carried that momentum into the 2026 season, where he was named the club’s Opening Day starter, signaling both his individual form and the organization’s confidence in his ability to lead the staff going forward.
