An 11-year-old Minnesota boy watched his baseball namesake pitch in the World Series after his father surprised him with a last-minute trip to Milwaukee.
Drew Rasmussen, who shares his name with the Tampa Bay Rays pitcher, travelled with his father, Nick, to American Family Field for Game Two against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The youngster had been following the right-hander’s career for years, regularly tracking his starts from thousands of miles away. His family said he remained a devoted supporter even before Rasmussen became a familiar name among Major League Baseball fans.
The pair arrived at the stadium five hours before the first pitch after staying in nearby Madison.
The promise behind the World Series trip
The surprise fulfilled a promise Nick Rasmussen had made after his son met the player in 2023, when the boy served as an honorary bat boy at Tropicana Field.
On that occasion, the two Drews walked off the mound together after the Rays played the Brewers. Tampa Bay won both games attended by the young fan.
Nick later told his son he would take him to the World Series if the pitcher recovered from his injuries and reached baseball’s championship series with the Rays.
The plan was revealed during an appearance on Tampa Bay Live, when Nick said: “As soon as we get done with this show, we have to pack because we’re going to the World Series.”
The elder Rasmussen’s journey has been particularly significant to his young namesake. The pitcher has undergone three Tommy John surgeries during his career, returning each time to compete at the highest level.
He began his professional career with Milwaukee after being selected by the Brewers in the sixth round of the 2018 MLB Draft. Tampa Bay later acquired him in a 2021 trade, creating the unusual circumstances of him facing his former club in the World Series.
Rasmussen started Game Two for the Rays after Milwaukee won the opening game 3-2. The series was being played at American Family Field, where the pitcher had previously made several appearances for the Brewers.
