Zach Plesac
Zach Plesac | |
---|---|
Cleveland Indians – No. 34 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Crown Point, Indiana | January 21, 1995|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
May 28, 2019, for the Cleveland Indians | |
MLB statistics (through 2019 season) | |
Win–loss record | 8–6 |
Earned run average | 3.81 |
Strikeouts | 88 |
Teams | |
|
Zach Robert Plesac (born January 21, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball (MLB).[1]
Career
Amateur career
Plesac was born in Crown Point, Indiana, and attended Crown Point High School, where he earned many accolades.[2] He enrolled at Ball State University in 2014 and went 12–2 with a 2.11 ERA and six saves in 25 games (six starts) 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.[3] He also played for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod League that year.[4]
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,[1] 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,[1] 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. [[1]] For the season, Plesac ended with a 8–6 record in 21 starts. He struck out 88 in 115+2⁄3 innings.
Personal life
Plesac's uncle Dan Plesac played in the major leagues from 1986 to 2003.[9][10] Another uncle, Joe Plesac, played in the minor leagues from 1982 to 1987.[11]
References
- ^ a b c "Dan Plesac Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Zach Plesac - The Baseball Cube". thebaseballcube.com. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ^ a b "Zach Plesac College, Amateur & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- ^ "Zach Plesac Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- ^ "Indians promote RHP Zach Plesac from Triple-A Columbus". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. May 28, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
- ^ "Indians vs. Red Sox - Box Score". ESPN.com. ESPN. May 28, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
- ^ "Zach Plesac - 2014 Baseball Roster - Ball State University Athletics". ballstatesports.com. Ball State Cardinals. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ^ "Dan Plesac Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- ^ "Joe Plesac Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- 1995 births
- Living people
- People from Crown Point, Indiana
- Baseball players from Indiana
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Cleveland Indians players
- Ball State Cardinals baseball players
- Wareham Gatemen players
- Mahoning Valley Scrappers players
- Lake County Captains players
- Lynchburg Hillcats players
- Akron RubberDucks players
- Columbus Clippers players