Pitcher Adam Plutko, 32, who recently parted ways with the LG Twins, is reportedly looking to return to MLB.
“After two outstanding seasons in Korea, Plutko is hoping to return to the majors as a free agent,” New York Post reporter John Heyman, who is well versed in Major League Baseball news, wrote on his X (Twitter) account on Saturday (Nov. 16).
John Heyman, one of the most quoted MLB reporters in Korean media, detailed Plutko’s two years in the KBO, noting that he “improved his breaking ball from 2486 to 2592 slider revolutions per minute.”
Plutko, a UCLA product, was drafted by Cleveland in the 11th round (321st overall) of the 2013 draft. After two years in the minors, he was first called up in 2016. That year, he pitched in two games and 3⅔ innings (7.36 ERA) out of the bullpen.
It wasn’t until the 2018 and 2019 seasons that he really took off. In 2018, he went 4-5 with a 5.28 ERA in 17 games, including 12 starts. The following year was his best season. In 20 starts, he pitched 109 1/3 innings with a sub-4 ERA (4.86). 7 wins and 5 losses.
Over the next five seasons, Until he was traded in 2021 and finished in Baltimore, he appeared in a total of 88 games and threw 273⅔ innings. 먹튀검증토토사이트 He compiled a 14-14 record with three saves and a 5.39 ERA. He made 37 of those starts. He then signed with the LG Twins and played in the KBO for two years.
Plutko is represented by the prestigious agency CAA.
His client roster includes Shohei Ohtani, JT Realmuto, Jack Flaherty, Trey Turner, Josh Hader, and Sandy Alcantara, among other big names. On the entertainment side, Brad Pitt, Beyoncé, and Will Smith are among its members. Son Heung-min is also signed here.
At this point, Plutko’s decision to return to MLB is somewhat surprising. A few days ago, his wife, Allison Plutko, announced on social media that he was recovering from surgery.
According to a post on Thursday, it appears that he had a nagging hip injury repaired. The pain, known in South Korea as a pelvic contusion, kept him off the mound for much of the second half. His wife, Allison, confirmed that this was his second surgery, and in response to a question from UCLA alum major leaguer Kevin Kramer (Pittsburgh), she explained, “It’s not the same place, it’s a new hip.”
Therefore, it can be inferred that he had undergone one surgery before coming to Korea and continued to have recurrences in the second half of last year and this season at LG. The rehabilitation period after the surgery is said to be five to six months. He could be ready to play in the first half of next year at the earliest.
This means that he is determined to get rid of the problem and start playing again in earnest. This is when things are heating up in Stavrig. Following the 30-team owners’ meetings, there will be a three-day Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tennessee, starting next month. That means the free agency market is about to open up.
As Scott Boras says,
Starting pitchers are always in short supply. What’s more, KBO players aren’t valued the way they used to be. In recent years, there have been success stories like Merrill Kelly and Brooks Reilly. It’s no surprise that this season’s three-time World Series champion Eric Pedroia is getting a lot of attention.
That’s why reporter John Morosi called Plutko’s two years at LG “excellent” and listed a detailed stat sheet. It’s a sign that he’ll be highly sought after.
However, he didn’t perform at his best, complaining of injuries before the postseason. This year in particular, he disagreed with manager Yoon Kyung-yeop and the coaching staff over his recovery schedule, which led to some controversy from fans over his work ethic. However, his recent hip surgery suggests that he was not in his normal physical condition.
Meanwhile, Plutko’s wife posted a photo of LG’s Korean Series victory without commenting on her husband’s post-surgery recovery.