Story Created:
Aug 17, 2010 at 2:37 PM PST
Story Updated:
Aug 17, 2010 at 2:37 PM PST
All five incoming freshmen signed by the UCLA baseball program who were selected in June’s Major League Baseball draft did not sign a professional contract prior to Monday evening’s deadline.
Brenton Allen, Adam Plutko, Nick Vander Tuig, Zack Weiss and Kevin Williams will now play for the Bruins.
Plutko, a right-handed pitcher from Glendora High School was a sixth-round pick of the Houston Astros.
“The players that are coming into UCLA as freshmen have a tremendous future in our program,” Bruin coach John Savage said. “This class will have an immediate impact, both on the mound as well as on the field. We are very excited that the entire recruiting class will show up in Westwood.”
Additionally, nine of UCLA’s 11 draftees from the 2010 team have signed pro contracts with their respective organizations. Of those nine selections, two did not have any remaining eligibility (seniors Garett Claypool and Blair Dunlap). Seven signed as either juniors or redshirt sophomores and will forgo their remaining collegiate eligibility — Matt Drummond, Niko Gallego, Erik Goeddel, Matt Grace, Dan Klein, Brett Krill and Rob Rasmussen.
Outfielder Chris Giovinazzo and left-hander Mitchell Beacom, both taken in the draft, decided to return for the 2011 season.
Plutko was the Southern Section Division II Player of the Year, helping lead Glendora to the CIF title. He went 10-1 with a 1.36 ERA, recording 97 strikeouts and 18 walks in 67 innings.
Allen, from Gahr High, was selected in the ninth round by the Philadelphia Phillies. The left-handed outfielder was first-team All-CIF Division III after batting .421 with six home runs and 33 RBIs.
Weiss, a right-handed pitcher from Irvine, was drafted in the 10th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. During his senior season at Northwood High, he went 7-5 with a 2.45 ERA and two saves.
Vander Tuig, a right-handed pitcher from Oakdale, was a 39th-round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays. He went 8-1 with a 0.82 ERA as a junior in 2009 before missing his senior season with a right arm injury.
Williams, an infielder from Van Nuys, went in the 41st round to the Dodgers. He batted .412 for Crespi High as a senior.
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