Adam Plutko

Position: RHP
Born: 10/3/1991
Height: 6'3
Weight: 195
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Drafted in the 11th round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft (CLE).

Most Recent Stats at Time of Debut
CURRENT SEASON STATS: 9-8 with a 3.73 ERA in 28 starts between Akron (Double-A) and Columbus (Triple-A), striking out 130 batters and walking 46 in 161.2 IP while allowing 150 hits.

Info & MLB Debut Date
Contract purchased from Columbus on September 19.
MLB Debut Date: 9/24/2016

Debut Details
September 24, in an 8-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox. The last of eight Indians pitchers on the night, he allowed two hits in 1.2 innings, walking one and striking out two. He inherited two runners, both of whom scored, and also threw one wild pitch. Coming on in relief of Austin Adams with two on and one out in the top of the eighth, he allowed an RBI single to Leury Garcia, which allowed Avisail Garcia to score. With Tim Anderson at bat, Plutko threw a wild pitch, allowing the other inherited runner, Carlos Sanchez, to score. He then struck out Anderson swinging and retired Melky Cabrera on a grounder back to the mound. In the ninth inning, he retired Jose Abreu on a fly ball to center field and J.B. Shuck on a pop-up to third base before Todd Frazier hit a double to center field and Avisail Garcia drew a walk, but he then struck out Alex Avila looking for the final out.

Player Notes
Drafted originally in the sixth round of 2010 by the Houston Astros out of Glendora High School (CA), he did not sign, and instead headed to UCLA where he was a standout, sharing rotation duties with such names as Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer, both first-round picks, and earning Most Outstanding Player honors at the College World Series in 2013. His innings load there of 124 prompted the Indians to let him rest after he signed and he did not make his pro debut until 2014. He moved quickly through the system after that, combining between Lake County (Class A) and Carolina (High A) in his pro debut for a 4.39 ERA in 28 starts, fanning 144 while walking just 30 in 149.2 IP. In 2015, he combined between Lynchburg (the Indians’ new High A affiliate) and Akron to go 13-7 with a 2.39 ERA and struck out 137 batters while walking just 28 in 166 innings, scattering 126 hits. That summer he led all Indians minor leaguers in ERA and average against (.208). With a fastball in the low 90s, a plus changeup considered tops in the system, a slider and a curveball, and he has a clean, easy delivery and no mechanical flaws.