Baseball: UCLA’s Rob Rasmussen goes to the Florida Marlins in second round; Former St. Francis standout Christian Bergman goes to the Rockies in 24th round.


Above: UCLA Bruin starting left handed pitcher Rob Rasmussen (27) of Arcadia and former Pasadena Poly standout during the Dodgertown Classic at Dodger Stadium as the Bruins beat the Trojans 6-1 in front of 14,000 plus fans February 28. (SGVN/Staff Photo by Keith Birmingham/SPORTS)

Rob Rasmussen gave up signing with the Dodgers as a 27th-round selection three years ago in Major League Baseball’s first-year player draft.

The former Pasadena Poly standout said he wasn’t ready for the pros and was adamant about attending UCLA.

Ready or not, here he comes.

The former Star-News Player of the Year on Tuesday was selected 73rd overall in the second round by the Florida Marlins.

The junior left-hander is in the midst of leading the Bruins in the NCAA Super Regionals. UCLA plays Cal State Fullerton beginning Friday at Jackie Robinson Stadium for a trip to the College World Series.

He struck out seven in six innings to record his 10th win of the season and lead UCLA to its second NCAA Super Regionals in the last four years. He has 108 strikeouts this season with a 2.90 ERA and 27 walks in 90 innings.

Rasmussen was one of nine UCLA players selected in the draft and became the earliest Bruins draft selection since 2006, when David Huff was drafted in the supplemental first round (39th overall) by the Cleveland Indians. Rasmussen also was the first UCLA player drafted in the second round since 2007, when Brant Rustich was selected by the New York Mets.

“His mother and I are very, very excited,” Rasmussen’s father, Dale, said.

“Rob has worked very hard. It’s a great thing for Rob, the Bruins and our family.”

Rasmussen was limited to nine games as a freshman because of a broken foot he suffered after being hit by a line drive in his college debut. He missed 10 weeks before returning near the end of the season.

As a sophomore, Rasmussen went 4-2 with a 6.45 ERA in 18 games (six as a starter).

Former St. Francis standout Christian Bergman, now at UC Irvine, was selected in the 24th round (740th overall) by the Colorado Rockies.

Bergman was 9-3 this season and an All-Big West second-team honoree after pitching 101 2/3 innings, striking out 78 and walking just 16. Bergman pitched a near-perfect game this season, facing the minimum batters in a one-hit win, and was voted the Collegiate Baseball “Louisville Slugger” National Player of the Week for his performance.

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