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Baseball: UCLA’s top recruits decide to attend college

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Pitchers Adam Plutko from Glendora and Zack Weiss from Irvine Northwood have rejected professional baseball offers and will enroll as scheduled at UCLA this fall.

Plutko, a sixth-round draft choice of the Astros, was offered a signing bonus of more than $1 million. Weiss was taken in the 10th round by the Pirates.

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It’s great news for UCLA Coach John Savage, who returns his two top pitchers in Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer but needs to find a No. 3 and No. 4 starter. Plutko and Weiss will be contenders for both spots. Also turning down a pro contract to join the Bruins was Cerritos Gahr outfielder Brenton Allen, a ninth-round pick of the Phillies.

In a big surprise, first-round draft pick Dylan Covey from Pasadena Maranatha failed to reach terms with the Milwaukee Brewers and will attend San Diego. Covey was taken 14th overall. Covey has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and told Baseball Beginnings that ‘college baseball would be a better fit’ for adjusting to his new lifestyle.
USC lost Palo Alto High outfielder Joc Pederson, an 11th-round pick of the Dodgers who received a $600,000 bonus.

Cal State Fullerton lost Dana Hills pitcher Peter Tago, taken No. 47 overall by the Rockies. Titans outfielder Gary Brown, a first-round pick of the Giants, signed for $1.45 million.

Westlake Village Westlake first baseman Christian Yelich, taken No. 23 by the Marlins, signed for $1.7 million instead of going to Miami, according to Baseball America.

-- Eric Sondheimer

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