Prospect Introduction: Colby Rasmus

The St. Louis Cardinals entered the 2007 offseason as an aging veteran team searching for an identity. As the front office turned over and the reins of power were handed to the likes of General Manager John Mozeliak and VP of scouting and player developement Jeff Lunhow, an identity started to emerge. That identity would come to be known as simply, “the youth movement,” and at its forefront was Colby Rasmus. The 2007 minor league player of the year was showcased to the fans in St. Louis during the winter warm up as the embodiment of this youth movement, and as a promise of what is to come.

Background

Colby Rasmus was selected 28th overall by the Cardinals in the 1st round, a pick which was received from the Boston Red Sox in compensation for Boston signing Edgar Renteria in free agency. Rasmus was drafted out of Russel County High school in Seale Alabama, where as a senior, he batted .484 with 24 home runs, 66 RBI, and 69 runs scored in 39 games. His 24 Home Runs as a senior broke Bo Jackson's Alabama state single season record. Colby comes from a great baseball family. His father, Tony Rasmus, was manager of the 1999 Little League World Series Team that featured both Colby and his younger brother Cory Rasmus who was drafted 38th overall by the Atlanta Braves.

Scouting Report

Nothing excites scouts more than a true five tool player. The five tools for a position player are hitting for average, hitting for power, fielding, arm strength, and speed. Colby displays all these tools at an above average to plus level. In a pre-draft workout, Rasmus showed off the plus arm that will make him a great outfielder as he was clocked at 94 mph throwing from center field. He also displayed above average speed as he ran 60 yards in 6.7 seconds. His defense is already considered to be MLB ready as he shows plus range and instincts in CF.

Colby's hitting ability has already produced on the field results. His compact fluid left handed swing has propelled him through the minors, and his offensive production says all that needs to be said about his hitting potential. At his first stop in Rookie Level Johnson City in 2005 Rasmus posted a line of .296/.362/.514 with seven home runs and 27 RBI, stealing 13 bases in 16 attempts. His most impressive season thus far was in Double A Springfield where Colby hit .275/.381/.551 with an OPS of .932. He also belted a career high 29 HR, 72 RBI and 18 SB in just 128 games.

Make up

Colby shows maturity beyond his years in the OF. And his ability to play himself out of slumps will be invaluable at the MLB level. Rasmus battled through a sinus infection which hurt his offensive production, but he broke out to post fantastic second half numbers. Colby was raised in a baseball family by a baseball man, and he acts accordingly. Despite all the accolades he has received, Colby maintains a humility that belies his age. I attended many games at Springfield last year and saw first hand his respect for the fans, as Colby would not leave the field until every fan who wanted an autograph had received one. Colby is not above being discouraged as he openly admitted that not making the big club out of Spring Training affected him. Rasmus went into an early slump in 2008 at Memphis. But instead of having a wasted year, Colby gathered himself and broke out of the slump by reaching base in 27 straight games and raised his average some 60 points after hitting .338/.417/.541 with an OPS of .957 in the month of June.

Future

Colby Rasmus projects as the everyday center fielder for the Cardinals for many years to come. The front office already showed their confidence in him by labeling him as "untouchable" in off season trade talks. It is not hard too comprehend why Rasmus is valued so much when you consider that he has been compared to such elite players as Carlos Beltran and his predecessor Jim Edmonds. Rasmus was assigned to Memphis to start the 2008 season where he is learning valuable lessons that will help him when his time comes to play in the big leagues. Colby has been a notoriously slow starter in his professional career, but he began the 2008 season in what was more than just a slow start. He experienced his first prolonged slump. There was talk of him being discouraged due to not making the big club, as well as rumors that coaches were instructing him to change his approach. But the reality is Colby is just a 21 year old in his first go at Triple A. It bodes well for his future that Colby was able to pull himself out of his slump, and in the last month or so he has began to hit like the Colby Rasmus we all know and love. His plus bat and glove will propel him to a great career as a St. Louis Cardinal. The question for Rasmus is no longer an "if", it is only a question of when he will begin to make his presence known in Busch Stadium.

-jaym