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John Ely Traded to Houston

December 19, 2012

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced that they have traded RHP John Ely to the Houston Astros in exchange for minor league LHP Rob Rasmussen.

Ely, 26, was named the Albuquerque Isotopes' and Pacific Coast League's 2012 Pitcher of the Year after compiling a 14-7 record with a 3.20 in 27 starts in 2012. He became only the third hurler in PCL history to win the "Pitching Triple Crown" as he led the League in wins, ERA, and strikeouts (165). In 65 career games (all starts) with the Isotopes (2010-2012), Ely went 26-19 with a 4.80 ERA and two shutouts. He was also a member of the 2012 PCL mid-season and post-season All-Star teams.

Ely was acquired by the Dodgers in a December 2009 trade with the Chicago White Sox and went 4-13 with a 5.70 ERA in 25 games (19 starts) over three seasons in Los Angeles.

Rasmussen, 23, is a Southern California native and played collegiately at UCLA. The Dodgers selected him in the 27th round of the amateur draft, but he decided to attend UCLA instead. Rasmussen was selected by the Marlins in the second round of the 2010 amateur draft and then traded to the Houston organization on July 4, 2012 as part of the deal that sent Carlos Lee to Miami.

In three minor league seasons, Rasmussen is 20-21 with a 3.88 ERA in 60 games (53 starts), including 4-4 with a 4.80 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) at Double-A Corpus Christi in 2012.