Dennis Rasmussen was a left-handed pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for 12 seasons. He was born on April 18, 1959, in Los Angeles, California, and attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
Rasmussen was drafted by the California Angels in the first round of the 1980 MLB draft. He made his major league debut with the Yankees in 1983 and played for them until 1986. During his time with the Yankees, Rasmussen was a solid starting pitcher, winning 16 games in 1986.
After leaving the Yankees, Rasmussen played for several teams, including the San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, and Pittsburgh Pirates. He was primarily used as a starting pitcher but also pitched out of the bullpen.
Rasmussen's best season outside of his time with the Yankees came in 1988 with the Padres. He won 13 games and had a 2.90 ERA, which was good enough for fifth in the National League.
Overall, Rasmussen had a career record of 91-77 with a 4.15 ERA. He struck out 847 batters in 1,502 innings pitched.
After retiring from baseball, Rasmussen became a pitching coach. He worked in the minor leagues for several years before becoming the pitching coach for the University of San Diego. He also worked as a scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In conclusion, Dennis Rasmussen was a solid left-handed pitcher who had a successful career in Major League Baseball. He played for several teams and was primarily used as a starting pitcher. Rasmussen had his best season with the Padres in 1988, winning 13 games and finishing fifth in the National League in ERA. After retiring from baseball, he became a pitching coach and scout.
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