ARLINGTON, Texas — Seven Wildcats picked up recognition this afternoon with the announcement of the Big 12 Conference's end of year baseball awards, highlighted by right-handed pitcher Tony Pluta who was selected as the league's Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Pluta, the first conference Scholar-Athlete of the year in program history, was also named to the All-Big 12 Second Team along with infielder Mason White. Additionally, first year right-handed pitcher Smith Bailey was voted onto the Big 12 All-Freshman Team. Arizona's recognitions were rounded out by catcher Adonys Guzman, right-handed pitcher Owen Kramkowski, and outfielders Brendan Summerhill and Aaron Walton all earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention nods.

Across 23 regular season appearances Pluta tallied 11 saves, the most in the Big 12 and tied for ninth among all Division I players. The Iliinois native owns an impressive 1.65 ERA and has limited opposing hitters to a minuscule .187 batting average while striking out 26. Pluta's numbers are even more impressive in Big 12 Conference play, where he made 10 appearances and allowed just one earned run for a 0.61 ERA while registering five of his 11 saves. The right-hander is currently tied for the second most saves in a single season in program history, while his 13 career saves are tied for the seventh most all-time. Pluta's dominance was not limited to the baseball diamond, the Aerospace Engineering major boasts a 3.919 GPA and was selected to represent Arizona on the CSC Academic All-District team and the Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll last season.

White, a Tucson native in his third year with the Wildcats, has started 54 games and hit .315 (69-for-219) with 15 doubles, seven triples, 13 home runs, and 59 RBI. During his time with the Wildcats he has etablished himself as one of the most prolific sluggers in program history; White's 42 career home runs are the third most in program history, his 101 career extra-base hits are tied with his head coach Chip Hale for third all-time, and his 23 XBH in conference play were a single-season program record.

Bailey has been entrenched in the Arizona starting rotation all season and has 14 starts on his record; the freshman right-hander boasts the best ERA on the team among qualified pitchers at 4.52. The Peoria, Arizona native has earned two wins, struck out 62, and limited opposing hitters to a .280 batting average. His first career quality start came last week at Houston as he helped the Wildcats secure a first round bye at the Big 12 Baseball Championship. Bailey has thrown 65.2 innings as a true freshman this year, the most by a Wildcat freshman since Kyle Simon threw 74.2 innings in 2009.

Guzman, a junior, has seen time in 51 games this year with 50 games. As the team's primary catcher, he has earned a spot as one of 13 semifinalists for the 2025 Buster Posey Award. Guzman is hitting .309 with 37 runs, 10 doubles, six home runs, and 34 RBI, all career-high marks. The New York native has thrown out 16 would-be base stealers so far this season, the best mark by a Wildcat since Cesar Salazar mowed down 16 in 2018.

Kramkowski, another Southern Arizona native, began the season as Arizona's second starter before moving into their game one role earlier this month. The tall righty has made 14 starts and owns a 5.45 ERA with 67 strikeouts in those outings. Kramkowski boasts the most wins on the team at seven, a mark that ranks tied for third in the Big 12.

Summerhill, a projected first round selection in this summer's MLB Draft, was limited to just 33 games this season due to injury but has still put up daunting numbers. The Chicago native is hitting .390 with 27 runs scored, 10 doubles, six triples, three home runs, 31 RBI, and a dozen more walks (27) than strikeouts (15). The outfielder has also stolen eight bases and posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

Walton, a transfer in his first season with Arizona, has been a steady force in the Wildcats lineup all season and a reliable everyday center fielder. The Tennessee native leads the team with a .317 batting average and has also tallied 60 runs, 18 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, and 38 RBI. Walton's 18 stolen bases this year are top 10 in the Big 12 and the most by a Wildcat since Kevin Newman had 22 in 2015.

The Wildcats begin their postseason at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship at Globe Life Field in Arlington this Thursday, May 22 at 7:00 a.m. MST. Arizona will play the winner of the Arizona State vs. BYU game on Wednesday.