Zach Plesac

Zach Robert Plesac (born January 21, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2019.

Zach Plesac
Plesac with the Cleveland Indians in 2019
Cleveland Indians – No. 34
Pitcher
Born: (1995-01-21) January 21, 1995
Crown Point, Indiana
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 28, 2019, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record12–8
Earned run average3.32
Strikeouts145
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Career

Amateur career

Plesac was born in Crown Point, Indiana, and attended Crown Point High School, where he earned many accolades.[1] He enrolled at Ball State University in 2014 and played college baseball for the Ball State Cardinals. In his freshman year, he had a 12–2 win-loss record with a 2.11 earned run average (ERA) and six saves in 25 games played, with six games started, to earn Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman Pitcher of the Year honors. He was also named to the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Midwest Region Team, a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Freshman All-American, a Louisville Slugger Third Team All-American, the Mid-American Conference Freshman Pitcher of the Year and a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American. In 2015, he was 5–5 with a 3.27 ERA in 16 starts to earn All-MAC Second Team honors.[2] He also played for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod League that year, and was 0–2 with an 11.88 ERA.[3]

Professional career

Plesac was selected in the 12th round (362nd overall) of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft by the Cleveland Indians and signed on June 29, 2016, for a $100,000 signing bonus,[4] but did not play in 2016.

He began his professional career in 2017 with the Class A Short Season Mahoning Valley Scrappers, and after posting a 1.38 ERA in eight games (seven starts), was promoted to the Class A Lake County Captains where he finished the season, posting a 1–1 record with a 3.60 ERA in six starts.[5]

In 2018, Plesac played for both the Class A-Advanced Lynchburg Hillcats and the Double-A Akron RubberDucks, pitching to a combined 11–6 record with a 3.79 ERA in 26 total starts between both teams.[6] He returned to Akron to begin 2019, and was promoted to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers in early May.[5]

The Indians selected Plesac's contract from the Clippers on May 28, 2019.[7] He made his MLB debut that day at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox,[4] allowing one run on four hits in ​5 1⁄3 innings and receiving a no decision.[8] In the middle of a heated wildcard playoff race, Plesac pitched a 4 hit shutout against the Los Angeles Angels. It was both Plesac's first complete game and first shutout of his career.[9] For the season, Plesac ended with a 8–6 record in 21 starts. He struck out 88 in ​115 2⁄3 innings.

In his first start of the 2020 season, Plesac had one of the best outings of his career against the White Sox, going eight innings, striking out 11, and allowing no earned runs.[10] On August 9, Plesac was sent home by the Indians via car service after violating team and Major League Baseball COVID-19 protocols after going out with friends in Chicago following a game against the White Sox.[11] Plesac later issued a statement apologizing.[12]

With the 2020 Cleveland Indians, Plesac appeared in 8 games, compiling a 4-2 record with 2.28 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 55.1 innings pitched.[13]

Personal life

Plesac's uncle Dan Plesac played in the major leagues from 1986 to 2003.[14][15] Another uncle, Joe Plesac, played in the minor leagues from 1982 to 1987.[16]

References
  1. Smith, Hillary (June 13, 2013). "Crown Point's Zach Plesac makes the plays to be Times Baseball Player of the Year". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Lee Enterprises. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  2. Mutka, John (May 25, 2015). "Crown Point grad Zach Plesac powers Ball State on mound, at plate". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  3. "Zach Plesac – The Baseball Cube". thebaseballcube.com. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  4. "Dan Plesac Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  5. "Zach Plesac College, Amateur & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  6. "Zach Plesac Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  7. "Indians promote RHP Zach Plesac from Triple-A Columbus". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. May 28, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  8. "Indians vs. Red Sox – Box Score". ESPN.com. ESPN. May 28, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  10. "Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Indians Box Score, July 29, 2020". Baseball Reference.
  11. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29629784/indians-send-zach-plesac-home-leaving-hotel-go-chicago
  12. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/cleveland-pitcher-zach-plesac-issues-apology-for-breaking-coronavirus-protocols-in-chicago/
  13. https://www.mlb.com/player/zach-plesac-668676
  14. "Zach Plesac – 2014 Baseball Roster – Ball State University Athletics". ballstatesports.com. Ball State Cardinals. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  15. "Dan Plesac Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  16. "Joe Plesac Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
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