Cory Rasmus Stats & Scouting Report

IP	123
ERA	4.171
WHIP	1.325
BB/9	4.171
SO/9	8.854

Full name Cory Taylor Rasmus
Born 11/06/1987 in Columbus, GA
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Russell County
Debut 05/22/2013
Drafted in the C-A round (38th overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2006 (signed for $900,000).

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Scouts know Rasmus as well as they can know any high school prospect. The son of Tony, his high school coach and a 10th-round pick of the Angels in the January phase of the 1986 draft, and younger brother of Colby, the Cardinals' first-round pick in 2005, Cory had a celebrated youth and prep career. He was a catcher on the 1999 Phenix City Little League team that advanced to the Little League World Series, and he teamed with Kasey Kiker to form the nation's most successful high school pitching staff as a junior, leading Russell County to a national title in 2005. He was also an Aflac All-American. Rasmus has always shown impressive arm strength. His fastball was clocked in the high 80s as a 15-year-old and last fall he bumped 97 mph. But he doesn't do it easily. His arm is quick but his delivery features lots of effort. His thick, stocky frame lends no projection, but most scouts feel his present package profiles well enough. His command suffers when he's throwing in the mid-90s, but he shows a feel for pitching and his aggressive approach plays well. When he stays on top of his 11-to-5 slider, it has tight spin at 80-83 mph. In one game this season, Rasmus threw eight consecutive changeups, and it grades as an average- to above-average pitch at times. Like Kiker, Rasmus seems to flourish in the spotlight and has turned in impressive performances in front of throngs of scouts. He needs to mature off the field--he was sent home after one day at the East Coast Showcase in 2005 after he took a student's bike for a joyride late one night--but his prankster personality is not a significant concern. Rasmus' track record and arm strength could entice a team to take him as early as the second round, though his lack of projection could land him in the third- to fifth-round range.

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Organization Prospect Rankings

The younger brother of top Cardinals prospect Colby Rasmus, Cory missed the entire 2007 season. The Braves hoped rest and rehab would cure his shoulder problems, but he wound up having surgery in July to tighten the muscles his shoulder. He has pitched just seven pro innings since signing for $900,000 as the 38th overall pick in the 2006 draft. Rasmus, who teamed with Colby to help lead Russell County (Ala.) High to the 2005 national championship and also was the valedictorian of his class, declined a full ride to Auburn to turn pro. Before he got hurt, he featured a low- to mid-90s fastball that has been clocked as high as 97 mph along with a sharp overhand 11-to-5 curveball that can buckle the knees of righthanders. His two-seamer has good late movement, and his changeup has the makings of a plus pitch. Scouts were concerned about Rasmus' full-effort delivery during his high school days, and he's not very big or projectable. He'll have to iron out his mechanics, which should improve his durability and his command. While shoulder injuries are more troublesome than elbow problems, Atlanta is confident that Rasmus can bounce back and develop into a middle-of-the-rotation starter. If he's healthy this spring, he'll open the season in low Class A.
Before the Braves made Rasmus the 38th overall pick in 2006 and signed him for $900,000, he had a storied amateur career. He helped Russell County High (Seale, Ala.)-- coached by his father Tony and featuring his older brother Colby (the Cardinals' No. 1 prospect)--win the 2005 national championship. Cory has a power arm and a deeper repertoire than most pitchers his age. He throws a 92-94 mph fastball that tops out at 97 and has decent life. His best pitch is a knee-buckling 11-to-5 curveball that seems to fall out of the sky and left many batters shaking their heads during instructional league. Rasmus also has an above-average changeup, a pitch that he has become so adept with that he sometimes relies on it too much instead of challenging hitters. He has a thick body that leaves little room for projection. His arm is quick and he has a good feel for pitching. As he moves up the ladder, Rasmus will have to smooth out his command and the mechanics of his fulleffort delivery. He has the ability to be a No. 2 or 3 starter in the big leagues, though that's a long ways off. He'll open 2007 in low Class A.