Home of the Kit Pellow Fan Association

Collecting Cleveland Baseball Since 1982

Collecting Cleveland Indians Topps team sets from 1952-present, as well as post-war minor and major league autographs.

From the Collection: Adam Plutko, p, LG Twins

Adam Plutko signed scorecard
Adam Plutko signed score card

From the Collection: Adam Plutko, p, LG Twins

Back in 2011, the top three of the UCLA Bruins rotation were Trevor Bauer, Gerrit Cole, and Adam Plutko. As good as that rotation was–and both Bauer and Cole would get taken in the first round of that year’s draft–it would be the Plutko-led UCLA rotation in 2012 that would win the National Championship.

Plutko would be drafted by Cleveland in the 11th round of the 2013 draft. He never had the ceiling of Bauer or Cole, but was still a polished arm that was expected to move through the system quickly and land at the back end of the major league rotation. And he did just that, putting up solid numbers in the minors and making his major league debut in 2016. But Plutko was never able to find any sustained success in the big leagues, going 14-14 with a 5.39 ERA/1.38 WHIP with Cleveland (2016-2020) and Baltimore (2021).

But Plukto has found success in Korea. In 2022 he joined the LG Twins of the KBO League and went 15-5 with a 2.39 ERA/1.00 WHIP. This past season he went 11-3 with a 2.41 ERA/1.18 WHIP. Very solid numbers.

Plutko is only 32, and should still have some miles on his arm. He is a free agent and there are rumors that he is looking to return to the major leagues.