Rasmussen's long journey reaches new milestone with 1st All-Star nod

BOSTON -- After signing Drew Rasmussen to a two-year contract extension in January, Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander reflected on all that the right-hander has overcome in his career.

Two Tommy John surgeries during his time at Oregon State. An internal brace procedure on the same elbow in 2023. A trade from the Brewers to the Rays. A midseason shift from the bullpen to the rotation. Through it all, Neander said then, Rasmussen was “a consummate professional” with “character to the highest degree.”

“He’s been tested in many ways and has just excelled in all those moments of adversity,” Neander said.

So, what else would you have expected from Rasmussen this season? Moving back into the starting rotation after three major elbow surgeries, Rasmussen has been as good as ever for the Rays. His success and his story were recognized on Friday, when he was selected to represent the Rays as a first-time All-Star -- replacing Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi -- at the MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Truist Park in Atlanta.

“It's quite the honor, that's for sure. I don't think it's anything I ever expected out of my career or anything,” Rasmussen said after pitching two innings in the Rays’ walk-off 5-4 loss Friday night at Fenway Park. “It's definitely more than I could have possibly dreamt for. Just being here and getting the opportunity to play, day in and day out, that was always the dream. It's incredibly humbling and it's something that I'll cherish forever.”

Rasmussen’s incredible work ethic and mental discipline have allowed him to make a seemingly seamless transition back into the rotation after returning as a reliever down the stretch last season. According to Jon Roegele’s extensively maintained Tommy John surgery database, Rasmussen is one of nine pitchers to return from three major reconstructive surgeries -- and he’s the only one to make it back from his third such procedure to make an All-Star team.

“He's the example in our clubhouse. He's the example for a lot of the other pitchers on our pitching staff,” pitching coach Kyle Snyder said. “His routines, the way he goes about his work and the results that it yields on the field, it's been pretty clear that that's a lot of the reason why he's returned to form the way that he has.”

After 19 starts, Rasmussen owns a 2.86 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP with 77 strikeouts and 22 walks in 91 1/3 innings. He ranks third on the Rays with 2.2 WAR, according to Baseball-Reference, and he’s been among the Majors’ most effective pitchers when it comes to run prevention.

His ERA entering Friday was the 12th lowest among AL pitchers who have worked at least 80 innings, his strikeout-to-walk ratio and opponents’ average (.216) were the 10th best and his WHIP ranked eighth.

“He deserves it, man,” said manager Kevin Cash, who broke the news to Rasmussen about three hours before Friday’s first pitch. “The way he's performed, obviously, this first half -- but there is a backstory for the type of teammate he is, the type of work ethic, and mentality that he's shown to withstand and come back from some of these injuries.”

That’s what made Friday’s news so special for Rasmussen, many others in the Rays clubhouse and plenty of people who have helped him along the way.

“I think everybody in this clubhouse is pretty much over the moon, just in terms of all that he's gone through, the work that he's put in,” Snyder said. “To be recognized as one of the best pitchers in the game, to be able to go participate in the All-Star Game, it's his moment.

“This is a fairly emotional one, certainly for him, but I think for everybody else that's been involved.”

With the Rays wanting to give the 29-year-old a midseason break to manage his workload without disrupting his routine, Rasmussen is currently acting as a sort of opener for hard-throwing Joe Boyle. But Rasmussen will be available to pitch an inning in the Midsummer Classic, and Snyder said he hopes it will be a “coming-out party” for the right-hander.

“It's more than just the inning,” Snyder said. “When you consider all that he's gone through, to be able to get this honor and have the honor to actually go out there and participate. ... I'll be excited to watch him pitch.”

“Shoot, I never thought I would ever get this opportunity in the first place,” Rasmussen added. “So, we're definitely not going to pass up on the opportunity to throw in the game if the phone rings and my name is called at some point.”

Rasmussen will be the Rays’ first right-handed starter in the All-Star Game since Charlie Morton made it in 2019. Brandon Lowe won’t be active for the game after going on the injured list on Friday, but Tampa Bay will still send four players to Atlanta for the Midsummer Classic: Rasmussen, Lowe, starting third baseman Junior Caminero and first baseman Jonathan Aranda.

It marks the fourth time in franchise history the Rays have had four or more All-Stars, joining 2023, '10 and ‘09.