Feb. 14, 2013

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Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List | Follow on Facebook

Durham, N.C. - Junior pitcher Adam Plutko has been named to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, as announced by USA Baseball today.

The Golden Spikes Award is presented annually at the end of the season to the top amateur baseball player. In 2011, right-handed pitcher Trevor Bauer became the first UCLA ballplayer to win the Golden Spikes Award.

The right-hander from Glendora, Calif. has earned preseason All-American acclaim from Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball, the NCBWA and Baseball America entering this season. He received first-team honors from Collegiate Baseball and the NCBWA and third-team acclaim from Baseball America. Plutko went 12-3 with a 2.48 ERA during his sophomore year, striking out 99 batters in 119.2 innings as the ace of the UCLA pitching staff. He also finished the 2012 season with a 7-0 record in his final seven starts, posting a 0.89 ERA and a .180 opposing batting average in that span.

Plutko has twice been named to the Pac-12 All-Conference team, and last season captured third-team All-America honors from Baseball America. In the postseason, he has been dominant, going 4-0 in four career starts with a 0.88 ERA. His 0.88 ERA mark is the lowest postseason ERA in school history (min. 12 IP) and his four postseason wins are also tied for the most in UCLA history. Overall, Plutko has gone 19-7 with a 2.26 ERA in his two seasons in Westwood.

UCLA is ranked as high as No. 2 in the preseason polls and begins its 2013 season tomorrow against Minnesota at 6 p.m. out at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Plutko will take the mound for the Bruins in the season opener. The two teams will continue the three-game series on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.