Adam Plutko
Adam Gregory Plutko is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles and in the KBO League for the LG Twins. He played college baseball for the UCLA Bruins.
Amateur career
Plutko attended Glendora High School in Glendora, California, and then enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles. Though he was selected by the Houston Astros in the sixth round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft, he opted not to sign with the Astros.At UCLA, Plutko was a member of the Bruins baseball team. He was teammates with future MLB All-Stars Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer. In 2013, Plutko led the Bruins to their first NCAA baseball championship, beating Mississippi State Bulldogs [baseball">2013 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team">Mississippi State Bulldogs [baseball team|Mississippi State] in the 2013 College World Series. During the World Series, he recorded wins over LSU in the opening round of the World Series and over against Mississippi State in Game 1 of the Championship Series. He was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player.
Professional career
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians selected Plutko in the 11th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Indians but did not pitch for their Minor League Baseball affiliates that year due to a stress fracture in his shoulder. Plutko made his professional debut in 2014 with the Lake County Captains of the Class A Midwest League. In May, the Indians promoted Plutko to the Carolina Mudcats of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League. In 28 games started between the two teams he compiled a 7–10 record and 4.03 ERA. He began the 2015 season with the Lynchburg Hillcats of the Carolina League, and was promoted to the Akron RubberDucks of the Class AA Eastern League in May. Plutko posted a 13–7 record, a 2.39 ERA, and a 0.93 WHIP in 27 starts between the two clubs.The Indians invited Plutko to spring training in 2016. He began the 2016 season with Akron and was promoted to the Columbus Clippers of the Triple-A International League on June 16.
On September 20, 2016, the Indians purchased Plutko's contract from the Clippers and added him to their active roster. In 28 starts for Akron and Columbus prior to his call up, he pitched to a 9–8 record and 3.73 ERA. He made his major league debut on September 24 as a relief pitcher.
Plutko spent all of 2017 with Columbus, going 7–12 with a 5.90 ERA in 24 games. He began 2018 with Columbus, and was recalled on May 3 for one game. He was optioned back to Columbus the day after. He was recalled once again on May 23 to take over as the fifth starter for Cleveland after Josh Tomlin was moved to the bullpen. He was sent back to Columbus, and threw a no-hitter on June 2. He finished with a record of 4–5 in 17 games. The following season, Plutko was 7–5 in innings.
Before the 2020 season, Plutko was moved to the bullpen. He got a spot start in the second game of a doubleheader against the White Sox, where he went six innings and struck out four while allowing two runs.
With the 2020 Cleveland Indians, Plutko appeared in 10 games, compiling a 2–2 record with 4.88 ERA and 15 strikeouts in innings pitched.