According to a report from The Athletic, the Cleveland Indians have sent starting pitcher Zach Plesac home after he allegedly ticked off his teammates and violated health and safety protocols by going out with some friends in Chicago.
Plesac upset teammates and club officials by going out with friends in Chicago on Saturday night in violation of team rules and the league’s health and safety protocols, sources told The Athletic.
The Indians, fearing an outbreak of COVID-19 similar to those that occurred with the Marlins and Cardinals, took quick action to isolate Plesac from his teammates and the rest of the club’s traveling party. The pitcher will be quarantined for 72 hours and tested daily, and the team could take additional preventative measures, sources said.
Plesac, 25, pitched six scoreless innings Saturday afternoon in a 7-1 victory over the White Sox, improving his ERA to 1.29 in three starts. He is next scheduled to start in Detroit on Saturday.
According to Major League Baseball’s updated protocols, released to clubs through a joint memo with the Players Association on Wednesday, staff and players must notify their club’s compliance officer if they intend to leave the team hotel on the road for any reason.
Good for the Indians for making a bold move by sending Plesac home for violating team rules. The Major League Baseball season can be played but it won’t happen if players are making poor choices like Plesac did this weekend.
Plesac has been outstanding and if he is punished and missed a start it would mean the Tigers will catch a break.
