Spring Training games still haven’t begun but that didn’t stop Kevin Cash from declaring the team’s Opening Day starter.
Taking the mound on March 26th in St Louis for the Tampa Bay Rays on Opening Day will be Drew Rasmussen.
“I’m really honored. It’s really cool to get the opportunity to pitch on opening day. Just being given the opportunity, it is a blessing, and it is humbling. And I’m excited for the opportunity.”
Rasmussen, 30, was originally selected by the Rays with the 31st overall selection in the 2017 draft but the right-handed pitcher went unsigned; a year later, Rasmussen was taken in the 6th round by the Milwaukee Brewers. He’d quickly make his big league debut in the 2020 season and then eventually find his way to the Rays as he would be traded to Tampa Bay for Willy Adames in 2021. He had a breakout campaign in 2022 and looked tobe a possible Cy Young candidate early in 2023 before his arm decided to explode and he would mis the majority of the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
This past year, Rasmussen made his return to be being a full time starting pitcher and enjoyed an All-Star campaign, compiling a 2.76 ERA | 3.84 FIP with a 21.7 K% & 6.3 BB% 0ver 150 innings pitched; due to Rasmussen’s injury history, the Rays limited his workload throughout the season, never permitting him to throw more than six innings in a game despite stellar performances.
The plan seems to be different in 2026 with Kyle Snyder saying that he think it’s “very reasonable” to expect Rasmussen to provide 170 innings this season, and bestowing upon him a starring role, in addition to his new clubhouse responsibilities as the clubhouse’s MLBPA representative.
