Colby Rasmus, Retired

Date of Birth: 8/11/1986
Birthplace: Columbus, Georgia

Colby Rasmus, retired center fielder, was first drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2005. He played in the Cardinals' minor league system from 2005 through 2008, finishing with a .277 batting average.

In 2009, his first year with the Cardinals, Rasmus batted. 251 with 119 hits and 22 doubles in 147 games. The following season was perhaps his best one, with career highs in hits (128), doubles (28), home runs (23), stolen bases (12), and batting average (.276).

After 94 games in 2011, the Cardinals traded Rasmus to the Toronto Blue Jays. He then played in 35 games with the Blue Jays, batting a dismal .173. After signing a one-year, $2.7 million contract with the Blue Jays in January, 2012, Rasmus had a better, although not good, season. He batted .223 with career highs in home runs (23) and RBIs (75) in 151 games in 2012.

Rasmus and the Blue Jays agreed to a one-year, $4.675 million contract in January, 2013. He spent time on the DL in 2013 and he played in 118 games. He batted a career high .276 with 115 hits, 26 doubles, 22 home runs, and 66 RBIs.

In January, 2014, Rasmus signed another one-year contract, this one valued at $7 million. He finished the 2014 season with 78 hits, 21 doubles, 18 home runs, and a .225 batting average in 104 games.

Rasmus signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Houston Astros on January 20, 2015. He finished the 2015 season with 103 hits, 23 doubles, 25 home runs, 61 RBIs, and a .238 batting average iin 137 games. Defensively, he played 72 games in left field, 43 games in center field, and 43 games in right field. In the postseason, he batted .412 with 7 hits, including 4 home runs and 1 double, and 6 RBIs in 17 at-bats in 6 games.

Rasmus played in 107 games with the Astros in 2016. He finished the season with 76 hits, 15 home runs, 54 RBIs, and a .206 batting average. Defensively, he played 87 games in left field, 21 games in center field, and 11 games in right field.

Rasmus became a free agent on November 3, 2016. He signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays on January 30, 2017. He played in 37 games with the Rays before announcing on July 13, 2017, that he was taking a break from major league baseball for personal reasons.

Rasmus elected free agency on November 2, 2017. He signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles on February 21, 2018. He spent time on the DL in 2018. On July 3rd, he decided to take a break from baseball and he was placed on the restricted list. He played in just 18 games with the Orioles.

Rasmus retired in July, 2018.

Career batting statistics for Rasmus through 2018 include:

• 1,092 games played
• 891 hits
• 183 doubles
• 166 home runs
• 491 RBIs
• 1,106 strikeouts to 362 walks
• .241 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Rasmus as an outfielder through 2018 include:

• 797 games played
• 1,771 putouts
• 29 errors
• .984 fielding percentage

Personal Life

Rasmus comes from a baseball family. His father played with the Los Angeles Angels in 1986, as well as spending three seasons in the minor leagues. His brother Cory was a pitcher with the Angels and the Atlanta Braves in 2013 and his brother Casey was a catcher in the Cardinals' minor league system.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Colby Rasmus
ESPN - Colby Rasmus