Adam Plutko

Adam Gregory Plutko

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 200 lb.
• School UCLA
• High School Glendora High School
• Debut September 24, 2016

• Born October 3, 1991 in Upland, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Adam Plutko was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2013 College World Series when he led the University of California, Los Angeles to the title.

He made it to the majors with the Cleveland Indians for a cup of coffee late in the 2016 season, appearing in 2 games in relief and pitching a total of 3 2/3 innings. The Indians had drafted him in the 11th round of the 2013 amateur draft.

After spending all of 2017 in the minors, he returned to the big leagues for what was scheduled to be a one-off start when the Indians hosted the Toronto Blue Jays in a make-up doubleheader on May 3, 2018. He pitched very well, going 7 1/3 innings and allowing just 3 runs in a 13-4 win, his first as a major leaguer. He was sent back to the minors as planned after the outing, but was called back on May 23rd to face the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, taking the place of Josh Tomlin, who had been pitching poorly of late. He was simply outstanding this time, as he took a no-hitter into the 7th inning after struggling with his command early, issuing 4 walks to the first 8 batters he faced, but being bailed out by a double play. He allowed a double to Anthony Rizzo to lead off the 7th; Willson Contreras followed with an infield single and he gave way to Andrew Miller, who retired the next three batters. He received credit for his team's 1-0 win. Back in the minors, he pitched a 9-inning no-hitter for the Columbus Clippers against the Syracuse Chiefs on June 2nd, winning 6-0. On July 11th, he recorded his first career save in unusual circumstances, as he pitched the final four innings of a 19-5 beatdown of the Cincinnati Reds in relief of starter Carlos Carrasco. He had just been recalled from Columbus the day before. He went 4-5, 5.28 in 17 games, including 12 starts, with the 1 save, and pitched 76 2/3 innings.

He started the 2019 season on the injured list, missing all of April because of a strained right forearm. He was then sent down to AAA Columbus to get back into shape, and even though he allowed 6 runs in 5 1/3 innings in two starts, he was called up to Cleveland on May 18th. He had a very solid first game, giving up just 1 run on 1 hit in 6 innings in a start against the Baltimore Orioles; the solo homer by Trey Mancini was the only Orioles hit all game, as Cleveland won 4-1 on a combined one-hitter. He ended up pitching 21 times for the Indians, with 20 starts, and a record of 7-5, 4.86. His 109 1/3 innings were the most he had pitched in the majors thus far.

Related Sites

• Adam Plutko on mlb.com