Plefka’s Passion for Baseball Pushes him Forward

By Justin Felisko on June 30, 2009

Bridgeport, CT-The quiet but eager 10-year-old boy raises his head towards the six-foot-eight-inch, 240 pound skyscraper.   The tall Bridgeport Bluefish reliever slowly bends over after gently introducing himself and hands the young boy a baseball in the visitor’s bullpen of the Ballpark at Harbor Yard.  With ball in hand, Ryan Mennitt steps to the mound and begins to listen intently to Jon Plefka.  Despite being separated by 14 years, they both share in the same love of the game.

“All we want is strikes,” says Plefka.  “It’s like a telescope [your elbow].  Point the telescope right at the catcher.  There we go! That’s what I like!”

After about three minutes of advice, Ryan is throwing strikes right across the plate to Bluefish catcher Shea Harris.  Ryan was one of many kids and adults who were able to participate in the June 14 Lenox Advisor’s Fantasy Day Camp at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard.

“It was pretty cool.  He was really helpful.” said Ryan.  “I also really enjoyed the hitting part of the day too.”

Plefka easily could have been somewhere else instead of at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard that early Sunday morning.  After averaging 20.3 minutes, 6.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in two seasons at Texas Tech playing basketball under Bobby Knight, Plefka was offered an opportunity to play basketball overseas in Germany.

“I always grew up playing basketball.  It was in my blood” said Plefka.  “Yet I preferred to play baseball.  It was my love and dream to be drafted for baseball.”

That dream came true for Plefka when he was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 47^th round (1214^th overall) in the 2006 Major League Baseball entry draft.  Instead of signing with the Angels, Plefka went on to stay at Texas Tech for his senior year and got a degree in human development and family studies.

Even though it was a difficult decision, Plefka chose to sign with the Angels after the 2006 season, this time as a free agent, instead of playing basketball overseas.

The opportunities in baseball seemed more promising to Plefka.  Even though he attended four different colleges in five years, Plefka’s numbers still showed the Angels potential.  The right hander pitched a total of 62 and two-third innings in three seasons at Vermont, Santa Fe Community College and Texas Tech.  In 2005, he posted a 3.66 ERA and 41 strikeouts at Santa Fe.

When manager Tommy John found out that the Bluefish had signed Plefka, he knew he was getting a tough and gritty relief pitcher.

“When he first arrived here I knew immediately that if he played for Coach Knight then he must be a tough son of a gun,” said John.

This season with the Bluefish, the opportunities have been slim to none for Plefka.  With a 2.20 ERA in ten games this season, the 24-year-old has done all he can to try and impress scouts.  Plefka has not appeared in a game since June 7 against the Somerset Patriots when he pitched 1.2 innings of shutout ball.

The New Britain native has used a fastball that ranges from 87 to 91 miles an hour, a slider and a changeup to get batters out this season.   His still-developing three pitch arsenal has held opponents to a .186 batting average in 16.1 innings.

“We don’t get the chance to use him as much as would like,” said John.  “Unfortunately you don’t get a chance to pitch that much here because the starters are going six or seven innings and he isn’t a closer.  He is more of a four-five-six inning kind of guy.”

Last year for the Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League, Plefka posted a 7.81 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 27.2 innings. Even though he was not as successful as he would have liked, Plefka isn’t ready to rush back to basketball just yet.  He understands that this is just his third season of professional baseball, and his second year focusing on baseball full-time.

“I was never the best player in any sport I ever played,” said Plefka.  “I always had to work hard to get anywhere.  I’m going to keep working hard to become the best pitcher possible.”

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