Oregon State Pitcher Drew Rasmussen Declared Out For Season

Oregon State's Friday night starter, Drew Rasmussen, who left his start last Thursday start against California in the 4th inning, has been lost for the season.

Rasmussen, who left with what was thought to be back pain, was listed as a game day decision for today's Pac-12 series opener against Washington.

Rasmussen has however, been diagnosed as having suffered an Ulnar Collateral Ligament tear however, an injury expected to require Tommy John surgery.

Further, the diagnosis has been known for a couple of days, but was covered up by some members of the media who learned of this earlier than when the announcement became unavoidable.

Rasmussen was 4-1, with a 3.41 ERA, and only  allowed 26 hits. Opponents were hitting only .198.

Travis Eckert will likely assume the weekend series leadoff pitcher role.

Rasmussen, a sophomore, has not used a red-shirt, and having appeared in only 6 games, an appeal by Oregon State to count this as a red-shirt season is likely to be successful.

Rasmussen is the second member of what was expected to be the Beavers' weekend rotation to be lost for the season, joining Sam Tweedt, who also had to undergo Tommy John surgery, and was lost last winter, before practice even began.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com