At the start of 2015 spring training Cory Rasmus wasn’t just a lock for a significant bullpen role, he was also in consideration for a rotation spot. An abdominal tear mid-spring put the kibosh on that plan, however, and Rasmus didn’t end up appearing in Anaheim until late July. Once in the ‘pen, the right-hander was never able to get comfortable on the mound. Still suffering some discomfort in his core, Rasmus started putting more stress on the rest of his body and strained his forearm as a result. He finally got healthy in September and pitched more like his 2014 self, but by that point his season was already lost.
Rasmus is now 28, fully healthy, and out of options, so a spot in the 2016 bullpen is his if he can hold it. Should he command his four-pitch arsenal anything like he did two seasons ago, that won’t be an issue.
Position: RP | Age (2016): 28
Throws: R | Bats: R
Height: 6’0” | Weight: 200
2015 WAR: -0.1
2015 in a Tweet
Cory Rasmus spent the entire 1st half on the DL with an core injury, then never quite found his rhythm in an arm-injury-shortened 2nd half.
2016 Projections
[table id=190 /]There’s a fairly high variance in Rasmus’ projections, which I suppose should be expected from a guy who’s bookended a fantastic season with two miserable small-sample ones. Rasmus is still a bit of an enigma to PECOTA, et al. but he’s got strong enough peripherals that they can’t just stick him with the bevy of sub-replacement arms—e.g. Bobby Parnell, Dale Thayer, Hector Noesi, etc.—that make up a large chunk of their output.
*PECOTA uses DRA in lieu of FIP
Pitch Usage
Rasmus has kept his pitch mix pretty static over the last three seasons. There was a small uptick in change-up usage last season, but that’s likely just small sample (20 IP) noise. Like José Álvarez, Rasmus utilizes his wealth of secondary offerings by giving different looks to right- and left-handed hitters. Righties get a steady diet (31%) of Rasmus’ slider, while lefties get a healthy serving (~35%) of his change-up; both get a small helping (~14%) of his curve ball.
Zone Profile
Rasmus stays away from hitters no matter who they are or what he’s throwing. He will throw almost any pitch in almost any count—his curve is the exception, coming in mostly to RHH with two strikes—which likely explains a lot of his 2014 success (and why he remains an emergency rotation candidate).
Lefties have been known to tee off on Rasmus when he leaves the ball up and away, but they struggle if he can keep the ball down in the zone or off the plate away. Righties cann’t hit Rasmus no matter where he puts it; they have a career .179/.266/.316 line against him.
Fun Fact
Cory and his brother Colby were both first-round picks in their respective drafts (’06 & ’05), making them part of a very small group of siblings to be selected in the draft’s opening round. The Drew brothers (J.D., Stephen, and Tim) and the Zimmer brothers (Kyle and Bradley) are other siblings to recently accomplish the feat.
What to Watch For
Rasmus posted his best strikeout rate ever last season (30.7%), but his walk rate (12.5%) climbed along with it. If he wants to get into high-leverage work at the back of the ‘pen, he’s going to have to get those free passes under control. We know he can do it—his 2014 rate was just 7.6%—but his track record in the minors (10.9%) seems to indicate that a double-digit walk rate might be the norm.
A Bold Prediction
Rasmus will be without a defined role early in the year, but will eventually emerge as a more reliable multi-inning bullpen option than José Álvarez and post a new career-high in innings pitched.
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