Rob Rasmussen

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #19 prospect in 2013
  The third starter behind Trevor Bauer and Gerrit Cole on UCLA's 2010 College World Series runners-up, Rasmussen won 11 games that spring, including the clinchers in the NCAA regionals and super-regionals. Signed by the Marlins for $499,500 as a second-rounder, he advanced quickly and spent his full pro season in high Class A. In the midst of his second, Miami shipped him and Matt Dominguez to the Astros for Carlos Lee. Houston pushed Rasmussen to Double-A, where he scuffled a bit but finished with seven shutout innings in a playoff start. The small-bodied Rasmussen has topped 140 innings in each of his two full seasons and gets swings and misses with two breaking balls. He throws both a curveball and slider, and his feel for spin has been his calling card since high school. Rasmussen has added polish as a pro, pitching on the corners with his fastball and changeup. He throws his fastball at 89-92 mph, though it tends to come in flat. His pitchability allows him to pitch backwards, but Rasmussen tends to nibble and get in trouble with walks. Scouts are split on whether he should remain a surprisingly durable, back-of-the-rotation starter or slide to the bullpen, where being lefthanded and throwing two breaking balls would make him an asset. He could see his first big league action in 2013.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #7 prospect in 2012
  Rasmussen was the No. 3 starter on UCLA's College World Series runner-up team in 2010, pitching behind Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer, the first and third picks in the 2011 draft. Rasmussen pitched just seven innings after signing and essentially made his pro debut in 2011, when he posted a 5.91 ERA in April and a 3.26 mark afterward. Rasmussen owns four solid-average pitches with a 90-93 mph fastball, a slider, a curveball and a changeup. His fastball command was poor early in the season, when he worked up in the zone too frequently and wasn't able to get away with it like he did in college. He learned to keep his fastball down and move it all around the zone, and he also did a better job of pitching off his heater. Rasmussen's 84-87 mph slider is his best secondary pitch, though he still needs to improve the angle on it. He gets nice two-plane break on his upper-70s curve. He isn't afraid to work inside. Rasmussen will move up to Double-A Jacksonville in 2012 and may not need much more than another year in the minors. Some Marlins officials see his future as a situational lefty, but he'll continue to start for now.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #10 prospect in 2011
  Rasmussen struggled his first two seasons at UCLA before breaking out in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2009. Last spring, he helped steer the Bruins to a runnerup finish at the College World Series, where he tossed six shutout innings in the finale. By the time he signed for $499,500 as a second-round pick, he had a tired arm, so the Marlins limited his pro debut to seven innings. Rasmussen won't wow anyone with his 5-foot-11 build, but he has the four-pitch arsenal and dogged determination to succeed. His fastball sits at 90-93 mph, though it takes a backseat to his breaking stuff. He has an above-average slider in the mid-80s, and he also has a cutter that looks similar but doesn't dive as deeply. His overthe- top, mid-70s curveball has two-plane break. He also throws a changeup. Rasmussen has a loose arm and the ball comes out of his hand easily, though he rushes his delivery at times. He improved his command last spring, but it still wavers when his mechanics get out of alignment. Florida has yet to determine Rasmussen's long-term role. His array of pitches serve him well as a starter, but he could move faster as a reliever who could shut down lefties with his breaking balls. He'll likely open his first full pro season in high Class A.

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Rasmussen was the No. 3 starter on UCLA's College World Series runner-up team in 2010, pitching behind Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer, who went on to be the first and third picks in the 2011 draft. Rasmussen pitched just seven innings after signing and essentially made his pro debut in 2011, when he posted a 5.91 ERA in April and a 3.26 mark afterward at Jupiter. Scouting Report: Rasmussen owns four solid-average pitches, with a 90-93 mph fastball, a slider, a curveball and a changeup. His fastball command was poor early in the season, when he worked up in the zone too frequently and wasn't able to get away with it like he did in college. He learned to keep his fastball down and move it all around the zone, and he also did a better job of pitching off his heater. Rasmussen's 84-87 mph slider is his best secondary pitch, though he still needs to improve the angle on it. He gets nice two-plane break on his upper-70s curve. He isn't afraid to work inside. The Future: Rasmussen will move up from Jupiter to Double-A Jacksonville in 2012 and may not need much more than another year in the minors. He has the full repertoire to be a solid starter, but if that doesn't work out he should at least end up as a situational lefthanded reliever.