Zach Plesac


Zach Robert Plesac is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball.

Career

Amateur career

Plesac was born in Crown Point, Indiana, and attended Crown Point High School, where he earned many accolades. He enrolled at Ball State University in 2014 and went 12–2 with a 2.11 ERA and six saves in 25 games 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. He also played for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod League that year.

Professional career

Plesac was selected in the 12th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft by the Cleveland Indians and signed on June 29, 2016, 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, 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.
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. He returned to Akron to begin 2019, and was promoted to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers in early May.
The Indians selected Plesac's contract from the Clippers on May 28, 2019. He made his MLB debut that day at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox, allowing one run on four hits in innings and receiving a no decision.
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. For the season, Plesac ended with a 8–6 record in 21 starts. He struck out 88 in innings.
In his first start of the 2020 season, Plesac had one of the best outings of his career against the White Sox, going 8 innings, striking out 11, and allowing 0 earned runs. However, the White Sox pitchers also did not allow a run through eight and because the bullpen allowed 4 runs in the 9th, Plesac got a no-decision.

Personal life

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