Guardians fans won't believe where Zach Plesac just resurfaced and what he did

On Sept. 10, 2019, Zach Plesac looked like a future star for the Cleveland Guardians. For nine innings, the then-rookie starter baffled Angels hitters and surrendered just four hits while pitching Cleveland to a victory that put them just a half-game out of a Wild Card spot. 

And even though the Guardians ended up missing out on a Wild Card spot that season, Plesac was one of the season’s bright spots and looked like a future mainstay in Cleveland’s budding rotation. 

Nearly seven years later, Plesac took the mound in a game far away from the lights of Angel Stadium. More than 2,000 miles away, in fact. 

On Tuesday, Plesac ended up appearing in a game for the Gary SouthShore RailCats in the American Association, where he played in right field and recorded two at-bats in Gary’s 25-2 win over the Chicago Dogs. 

And if that wasn’t confusing enough, Plesac’s hit came against former big league outfielder Aaron Altherr. 

It always comes back to Cleveland. 

Former Guardians pitcher Zach Plesac just picked up a hit in the Independent League

Pleasc’s appearance for the RailCats marked his second appearance with Gary after he signed with the team at the beginning of August. His other appearance was a more traditional two innings scoreless pitching appearance. 

It’s the second affiliated action of the year for Plesac, who started the season pitching for Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican League.

While Plesac authored that strong rookie season with Cleveland in 2019, his career hit a huge speed bump in 2020 when he and Mike Clevinger violated COVID policy by going out in Chicago after a game. 

He returned at the end of September and pitched well, but that proved to be the end of his dominant run.

Although he recorded a career-high 142 2/3 innings in 2021, he had a 4.67 ERA and ended up missing time due to a thumb injury the team said he sustained from taking off his shirt. A year later, he punched the mound after giving up a home run against the Mariners and fractured his hand.

He appeared in five games with the Guardians in 2023 before being designated for assignment. Plesac appeared in three games with the Angels in 2024, and has bounced around multiple independent leagues and minor league teams since. 

While there are plenty of players who use independent ball to work their way back into the big leagues, Plesac has an uphill battle. 

Last season he was able to parlay a productive stint with the Long Island Ducks into a minor league contract with the Cardinals, but he got lit up to the tune of a 7.67 ERA in 58 2/3 innings. 

But no matter what happens throughout the rest of his career, he’ll always have the memory of his hit against Altherr. 

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