Arizona relief pitcher Tony Pluta will miss the 2026 college baseball season with an injury. The 2025 National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year will undergo UCL surgery.
This is a massive blow for the Wildcats as Pluta was arguably the best reliever in college baseball heading into this season.
Pluta and His 2025 Season
Pluta put together an incredible season for Arizona in 2025. The right-hander had a 1.46 ERA in 37 innings of work. Over that same stretch, he had 34 strikeouts and allowed an opposing batting average of .219.
He was one of the best closers in all of college baseball with 14 saves. He received some individual accolades as well. The NCBWA and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) named him a first-team All-American.
Pluta played a massive role in a very successful season for the Wildcats. Arizona had a 44-21 overall record and had a great postseason as well.
The Wildcats won the Big 12 Tournament and made a trip to the College World Series. They are heading into 2026 as back-to-back conference tournament champions.
Arizona Begins the Season in the Surprise College Baseball Series
The Arizona Wildcats will begin the 2026 college baseball season on February 13 against the Stanford Cardinal.
The game is a part of the 2026 College Baseball Series in Surprise, Ariz., at Surprise Stadium.
The Wildcats will also face the Oregon State Beavers and the Michigan Wolverines on February 14 and 15, respectively.
The first pitch between Arizona and Stanford on February 13 is at 8 p.m. EST.
WBN NCAA: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
PHOTO: Arizona’s Tony Pluta (37) pitches during an NCAA super regional baseball game on Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
