Meet Kinley Rasmus, the historic Little League World Series star with MLB ties

Meet Kinley Rasmus, the historic Little League World Series star with MLB ties originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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There are a host of notable talents set to descend upon Williamsport, Pa.’s lush grass during the 2026 Little League World Series.

Few have the pedigree of Phenix City star Kinley Rasmus, however. At just 12 years old, Rasmus has already established herself as one of youth baseball’s biggest stars.

She can credit some of that notoriety to her last name, which has carried weight on the diamond for the better part of 40 years.

She’s also a fearsome presence on the mound and at the plate. Rasmus anchored the Alabama team’s journey to the Little League World Series. Now, she’ll look to reap the rewards of her gifts, all while her famous family accompanies her.

With that, here’s what you need to know about Kinley Rasmus, one of the Little League World Series’ biggest stars in 2026.

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Who is Kinley Rasmus?

Kinley Rasmus is a flame-throwing pitcher and shortstop who stars for Phenix City, the Southeast region’s representative at this year’s Little League World Series.

The 12-year-old has enjoyed an impressive run with the Alabama side, tossing a four-hit shutout with eight strikeouts and no walks in Phenix City’s regional title game. She also reached base all three times she stepped up to the plate, 

“It feels great,” Kinley told ESPN after the game, per the Houston Chronicle. “I’m so excited.”

Rasmus went 6-for-8 with a double, two RBIs and five walks in Phenix Ciy’s run to the state title. On the mound, Rasmus has seen similarly effective, tallying 13 strikeouts to just five hits while failing to concede a run in three appearances.

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“She gets out there and gets after it,” said Kinley’s uncle and manager with Phenix City, Case, per WTVM. “She brings the flare — she has her bow and she rocks it. But I mean as far as her competitiveness, that’s what people make a big deal about her being a girl, but more times than not she’s the best player on any field that she steps on.”

Kinsley has proven a hit among Little League audiences. Some of that can be explained by her famous last name. She also has garnered interest for her hairstyle; Kinley sports an oversized bow that pokes out from under the back of her helmet and cap during games.

Phenix City supporters have responded to Kenley’s fashion statement by serenading her with “Fear the Bow” chants during games.

“It’s awesome,” Kinley said. “Every time I hear it, I just start smiling, knowing everybody’s got my back.”

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Kinley Rasmus dad: Cory Rasmus

If Kinley’s last name sounds familiar, that’s because it is. She’s the daughter of former big-league pitcher Cory Rasmus.

The elder Rasmus pitched four years in MLB, spending almost his entire big-league career with the Angels. A first-round pick out of Russell County High School in Alabama, Cory initially got his start with the Braves, making his MLB debut in 2013. He was dealt to Los Angeles in exchange for reliever Scott Downs later that year.

Cory went 4-5 with a 4.17 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 123.0 innings pitched across his career. He was out of baseball by 2017.

Despite his fairly brief big-league career, Cory has remained tethered to the sport that served him and his family so well. In fact, the 38-year-old is accompanying his daughter during her trek to Williamsport, serving as one of Phenix City’s coaches alongside manager — and brother — Case.

Behind the Williamsport bags is the right place to be for Cory, who helped lead Phenix City to the Little League World Series championship game in 1999. Phenix City didn’t win that year — the U.S. champions were dumped by Hirakata Little League, 5-0, in the title game. Twenty-seven years on, Cory and Co. will look to hoist Phenix City’s first-ever LLWS crown.

MORE: How old are Little League World Series players?

Kinley Rasmus uncle Colby

Kinley’s uncle is Colby Rasmus. He, too, was a titan of sorts on the diamond, tallying 166 home runs in 10 big-league seasons.

Colby Rasmus was tipped for stardom as a youngster, topping out as the No. 3 prospect in baseball in 2009. He didn’t quite reach the upper echelon of big-league talent. But Colby was a perfectly solid player at his peak, collecting 23 home runs and a 132 OPS+ in 2010 and 22 home runs and a 127 OPS+ in 2013.

Kinley Rasmus cousin

Kinley, Corey and Case aren’t the only members of the Rasmus family that will be in attendance at this year’s LLWS. Case’s son and Kinley’s cousin, Ryker, also plays for Phenix City.

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How many girls have played at LLWS?

The list of girls to play in the Little League World Series swelled to 26 with the participation of Kinley Rasmus and Nevada’s Carsynn Meyer.

Belgium’s Victoria Roche was the first girl to participate in the competition, appearing in the 1984 tournament. Five years later, Victoria Brucker became the first girl to record a hit in the event.

YearPlayerTeam1984Victoria RocheBrussels Little League (Brussels, Belgium)1989Victoria BruckerEastview Little League (San Pedro, California)1990Kelly CraigTrail Little League (Trail, British Columbia)1991Giselle HardyArabian American Little League (Dhahran, Saudi Arabia)1994Krissy WendellBrooklyn Center American Little League (Brooklyn Center, Minnesota)1998Sayaka TsushimaKashima Little League (Ibaraki, Japan)1999Alicia HunoltRamstein Little League (Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany)2001Tatiana MaltsevaKhovrino Little League (Moscow, Russia)2002Sanoe AinaWaipio Little League (Waipahu, Hawai’i)2003Merced FloresCentral Little League (Agana, Guam)2004Meghan SimsOwensboro Southern Little League (Owensboro, Kentucky)2004Alexandra BelliniEast Nepean Little League (Ottawa, Alberta)2008Brielle MenoSouthern Guam Little League (Yona, Guam)2009Katie ReyesHastings Community Little League (Vancouver, British Columbia)2009Bryn StonehouseArabian American Little League (Dhahran, Saudi Arabia)2013Eliska StejsklovaSouth Moravia Little League (South Moravia, Czechia)2014Emma MarchSouth Vancouver Little League (Vancouver, British Columbia)2014Mo’ne DavisTaney Youth Baseball Association Little League (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)2019Maddy FrekingCoons Rapids Andover Little League (Coons Rapids, Minnesota)2021Ella BruningWylia Little League (Abilene, Texas)2022Falynn RandallSnow Canyon Little League (Santa Clara, Utah)2023Stella WeaverNolensville Little League (Nolensville, Tennessee)2024Emma GainsfordHills Little League (Sydney, South Wales)2025Monica ArcruriBrisbane North Region Little League (Brisbane, Queensland)2026Kinley RasmusPhenix City Little League (Phenix City, Alabama)2026Carsynn Meyer

Paseo Verde Little League (Henderson, Nevada)