Arizona baseball’s decorated closer and budding ace received All-American accolades this week.

Right-hander Tony Pluta was named a second-team All-American by Baseball America, while fellow righty Smith Bailey was named a second-team Freshman All-American by the publication.

Arizona’s Tony Pluta celebrates after securing the final out vs. TCU in the Big 12 Baseball Championship on May 24, 2025, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Davis Kuhn, Big 12 Conference

Pluta has been placed on four All-American teams following a breakout junior season in which he also was named the NCBWA Stopper of the Year. Pluta set the UA single-season record with 14 saves while posting a 1.46 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP and a .219 batting average against in 30 appearances.

Bailey recorded the lowest ERA (3.94) among Arizona’s full-time starting pitchers and finished his freshman season on an incredible run. Bailey registered quality starts in four of his final five outings, including clinching victories in the Big 12 Tournament, the Eugene Regional and the Super Regional at North Carolina that sent the Wildcats to the College World Series.

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Pluta is the first UA pitcher to earn All-American recognition from Baseball America since Bobby Dalbec in 2015. Bailey is the first UA freshman to be honored by BA since Daniel Susac and Jacob Berry in 2021.

Arizona’s Smith Bailey delivers a pitch against North Carolina in Game 3 of their NCAA Super Regional series on June 8, 2025, at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Jaylynn Nash, for Arizona Athletics

Contact sports reporter/columnist Michael Lev at mlev@tucson.com. On X (Twitter): @michaeljlev. On Bluesky: @michaeljlev.bsky.social

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