Rays' Rasmus steps away from baseball; not expected to return this season

The Tampa Bay Rays placed outfielder Colby Rasmus on the restricted list on Thursday, the team announced. Rasmus has decided to step away from the game, and is not expected to return this season, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin.

The Rays added that they respect Rasmus' privacy, and will not comment further.

Rasmus signed a one-year, $5-million contract with the Rays in early January, but he was sidelined with a hip injury through the start of the regular season.

He made his season debut on May 2, and proceeded to hit .281/.318/.579 with nine home runs in 37 games before landing on the disabled list with another hip injury that has kept him out of action since June 19.

Topkin later reported that Rasmus may just be frustrated by his injuries, and that he has no issues with the Rays as an organization.

The 30-year-old was selected 28th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2005 MLB Draft, making his debut in the 2009 season. Over parts of nine seasons, Rasmus has hit .242/.311/.438 with 165 home runs.