The Astros select 6'3" 180lb RHP Adam Plutko of Glendora HS (CA).
MLB.com:
In a strong year for high school arms, there are a few elite names at the very top followed by a fairly deep crop right below. Plutko probably fits in the latter group. He was getting extra buzz early in the spring with strong performances, showing a fastball up to 93-94 mph and an excellent changeup. His breaking stuff has been a bit inconsistent, and that might be what keeps him from joining that top group of prep arms.
Jason Churchill (Insider-only):
"For me, it's all about the high school kids," said one regional crosschecker, whose coverage includes California. "We had a feeling (Adam) Plutko might continue to convince everyone he was for real, and he's been better than advertised, and he's made a lot of progress at the same time."
Plutko, a right-handed pitcher from Glendora High School (California), has yielded but two earned runs on five hits in 23 innings this season, and owns a 40-7 K/BB ratio having punched out 52 percent of the batters he's faced.
"He's not your prototypical starting pitcher," the scout continued, "but he's got arm speed and strength and I like his arm action."
Plutko is 6-foot-1 and listed at 175 pounds, which might have pigeon-holed the kid into corner of late-round draft status, but the success of Tim Lincecum has changed everything. Now, scouts have to consider the slighter pitchers more than ever before.
"Roy Oswalt and Pedro Martinez aren't brute and barrel-chested, either."
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
