Rays Draft Pick Drew Rasmussen to Have Second Tommy John Surgery

The Tampa Bay Rays selected Drew Rasmussen with the 31st pick in the draft, but were unable to sign the righty. Rasmussen is now set to undergo his second Tommy John surgery, and will miss the 2018 campaign.

When the Tampa Bay Rays were unable to come to terms with Drew Rasmussen, something seemed wrong. Taken with the 31st pick in the draft, Rasmussen was a projectable arm, a power righty who was capable of reaching the upper 90s with his fastball. Considered to have three quality pitches, led by that fastball, Rasmussen was the type of pitcher that could have rocketed up the Rays system.

However, there were red flags. He had undergone Tommy John surgery in 2016, returning in April as a reliever. While Rasmussen had pitched well, the Rays were obviously concerned about something that they found, as they failed to lock up their draft pick. As it turns out, the Rays had every reason to be concerned, as Rasmussen will undergo his second Tommy John procedure in two years.

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This is certainly a tough blow for the Oregon State pitcher. Had he proven to be healthy in the upcoming season, he may well have been taken higher in the draft. Now, he faces a great deal of uncertainty, with two procedures on that right elbow before he has thrown a professional pitch.

Rasmussen could also prove to be a tremendous bargain for another team in the coming year. While it is unknown as to how he will recover, a team willing to role the dice could take him in the later portion of the 2018 MLB Draft. After all, he has been considered to be the 98th best prospect leading up to the draft, and may have improved his stock had he remained healthy.

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The Tampa Bay Rays passed on signing Drew Rasmussen. As he is set to undergo his second Tommy John surgery, one has to wonder if Rasmussen will have the professional career that seemed to be a foregone concussion a few months ago.