Arizona baseball notebook: John DeRouin announced as pitching coach, more All-America nods, portal update

Wildcats have also added another pitcher from portal

Arizona’s return to the College World Series earlier this month was a team effort, though the overall performance of the pitching staff may have been the most important piece of the puzzle. And while the architect of that pitching renaissance has moved on, his right-hand man is officially sticking around to continue the process.

The UA officially announced John DeRouin as pitching coach on Friday, filling the role left vacant when Kevin Vance left to become head coach at San Diego State.

DeRouin, 25, has been with the Wildcats for two seasons. He was Director of Player Development in 2024 and spent this past season as Director of Pitching Performance and Strategy, working alongside Vance to develop UA pitchers and call games.

“Since joining our program John has been a tremendous resource for out student-athletes and our staff and a major part of our improvement on the mound over the previous two seasons,” UA coach Chip Hale said in a news release. “Retaining and promoting John into a full-time coaching role overseeing our pitching is a great opportunity to continue our upward trajectory and sets us up for near-term and long-term success.”

DeRouin was integral in the development of right-handed starters Smith Bailey and Owen Kramkowski, who combined to make 36 starts including one apiece at College World Series. That duo is currently in North Carolina participating in USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team training camp.

He also helped turn righty reliever Tony Pluta into one of the best in the country en route to being named NCBWA Stopper of the Year.

It is expected that Owen Cuffe, on staff as a pitching strategist, will serve as DeRouin’s second in command.

Pluta adds to All-American haul

There isn’t an official designation in college baseball for someone being a “unanimous” All-American, like in football, but if there was Pluta would qualify. He has been named to either the First or Second Teams of every major All-American squad, most recently landing on D1Baseball’s Second Team.

The junior has earned First Team AA honors from the ABCA, College Baseball Foundation and NCBWA and in addition to D1 is on the Second Team of lists released by Baseball America and Perfect Game.

According to the UA media guide, Pluta is the first player in school history to earn six AA nods in one season.

Also getting honored on multiple teams is junior shortstop Mason White, who was a Third Team selection by D1Baseball and made Perfect Game’s Second Team. Additionally, Bailey was named to the Second Team of both Baseball America and Perfect Game’s Freshman All-American teams.

Wildcats add lefty from portal

Arizona has earned a commitment from former Tulane pitcher Luc Fladda, its third portal pickup. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

Fladda, a lefty who began his career at Oklahoma and also spent time at the junior college level, started 30 games the past two seasons for the Green Wave. In 2025 he was 4-6 with a 6.69 ERA, striking out 62 batters with only 11 walks in 76.2 innings.

He joins lefty Patrick Morris (Western Kentucky) and righty JT Drake (Texas Tech) as portal additions for Arizona.

The UA has lost nine players from the 2025 roster to the portal, most recently first baseman Tony Lira. Lira was one of five freshmen who redshirted this past season and is currently playing summer ball in the Northwoods League.

The portal for baseball officially closes Tuesday.