- Full name Anthony Joseph Pluta III
- Born 10/28/1982 in Visalia, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Las Vegas
- Drafted in the 3rd round (97th overall) by the Houston Astros in 2000 (signed for $450,000).
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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After getting shelled in low Class A in 2002 and knocked around in his first two starts last year, Pluta was cruising with a shutout for four-plus innings in his next outing. Then he felt a pop in his elbow while throwing a changeup, and his season was over. Pluta had Tommy John surgery in June and was doing well in his rehabilitation. Many pitchers come back stronger after the operation, and Pluta may benefit from adopting more of a finesse approach. He had explosive life on a 94-96 mph fastball but not much to go with it. He showed a good overhand curveball during his pro debut, but his breaking ball devolved into a three-quarters slurve. He also had only sporadic feel for his changeup, and exerted so much effort in his delivery that it cost him command. Pluta's best fit may be as a late-inning reliever, though he'd still need to come up with at least one more pitch. He'll start throwing again this June and may get back on the mound by the end of the season. -
In a season of disappointments, no player in the Astros system fell short of expectations more than Pluta. After a strong pro debut, Pluta made a lateral move to low Class A Michigan. Repeating a level and owning the best arm in the system should have been the ingredients for a dominant season, but instead he had the worst ERA and allowed the most homers (18) in the Midwest League. Pluta's arm strength was still evident, as he sat at 94 mph and was clocked at 97 in the seventh inning of one game. At times, he showed a plus hard curveball and feel for a changeup. But all too often, Pluta pitched as if velocity was all that mattered. He tries to overpower hitters, which causes him to fly open in his delivery and lose command and life on his pitches. There's a lot of effort to his delivery, and Pluta needs to dial it down a couple of notches and focus on finding the strike zone. He briefly got on track in June but fell apart again afterward. In the long term, he may be best off pitching in relief and trying to blow away hitters for an inning or two. For now, the Astros will continue to try to polish him up as a starter in high Class A. -
Pluta didn't start pitching full-time until he was a high school sophomore, and even as a senior he was more successful as a hitter. He was so impressive in instructional league after signing late in 2000, the Astros decided to challenge him by letting him make his pro debut in full-season ball at age 18. Pluta wasn't fazed. Though Pluta's fastball can push triple digits on the radar gun, he's not obsessed with throwing hard. He throws an easy 92-94 mph with plenty of life. He has a hard curveball with a sharp downward break, and it's a big league average pitch when he really snaps it off. Early returns on his changeup have been positive. He's a tough competitor and a quick learner. Pluta has some effort in his delivery and doesn't always stay under control. Once he smooths out and repeats his mechanics more consistently, he'll throw more strikes. He led the low Class A South Atlantic League in walks last season. The Astros don't have a high Class A team, and they aren't going to send Pluta to Double-A as a teenager. He'll either return to Lexington or make a lateral move to Michigan in 2002. -
Pluta was a power-hitting outfielder until he threw 90 mph at a workout as a freshman in high school. He has pitched full-time for just three years, and it showed during his senior year at Las Vegas High. Despite a mid-90s fastball, he went just 4-3, 4.76 (though he continued to hit, batting .478-8-43). As a result, he was available when the Astros picked in the third round of the 2000 draft. Pluta signed late and has yet to make his pro debut. He was impressive in instructional league, touching 98-99 mph on occasion. He'll need to learn there's more to pitching that velocity, however. Pluta tends to fly open with his delivery and overthrow, which makes him wild up in the strike zone and less deceptive. The life on his fastball is also inconsistent. His hard curveball and changeup have potential but need work. His upside could be higher than that of 2000 first-rounder Robert Stiehl. But Pluta also could continue to struggle if he can't make the transition from thrower to pitcher.
Minor League Top Prospects
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At 18, Pluta was the youngest member of a potentially legendary staff of Legends. He wasn't overmatched at all despite making his pro debut in a full-season league. After going just 4-3, 4.76 as a high school senior in 2000, he went 12-4, 3.20 in the Sally League. "We saw a very young pitcher who got better between starts," Legg said. "He made rapid progress, particularly with his fastball." It's been that way since Pluta started his pitching career as a high school freshman and reached 90 mph during his first workout. Despite crude mechanics, he hit 99 mph in instructional league last fall and had one of the best fastballs in the SAL. He'll be even tougher once he gains command of his curveball and changeup.
