Pitcher upset with portrayal after breaking rules of safety
Cleveland right-hander Zach Plesac believes he and teammate Mike Clevinger have been unfairly portrayed as “bad people” in the aftermath of the pitchers being quarantined by the team for violating COVID-19 protocols last weekend in Chicago.
Plesac said he posted a six-minute video on his Instagram page Thursday to “get out the truth” about his situation.
The 25-year-old acknowledged breaking team curfew Saturday after he and Clevinger left the team hotel, went out to dinner and socialized with Plesac’s friends. Plesac had pitched earlier in the day, getting the win.
After the Indians were told by MLB security about the players being out in public, the team got a car service to drive Plesac home so he wouldn’t risk exposing himself to teammates if he had been infected by the coronavirus.
Clevinger didn’t tell the team he was with Plesac and flew home with the team.
The Indians placed the two on the restricted list Tuesday, when fellow pitcher Adam Plutko said Plesac and Clevinger had “hurt us bad. They lied to us.”
Plesac maintains his actions weren’t malicious and that he and Clevinger practiced social distancing.
Plesac said he twice has tested negative for the virus.
“The media is terrible, man,” Plesac said in the video. “They do some evil things to create stories and make things sound better and make things sound worse.”
He believes he and Clevinger are being cast as “bad teammates, bad people and dragged across the mud.”
■ Cardinals: The team, which has not played since July 29 and has had 10 players and eight staff members test positive for COVID-19, is to play Saturday with a doubleheader in Chicago against the White Sox. The team is asking players to drive rental cars individually from St. Louis to Chicago. The news came after ESPN reported another Cardinals staffer had tested positive for COVID-19. Before the most recent positive test, the team had two straight days of negative test results.
■ Nationals: Sean Doolittle (right knee fatigue) was placed on the 10-day injured list, and fellow left-handed reliever Seth Romero was promoted to the majors. Doolittle, 33, Washington’s closer in 2019, has allowed five earned runs in three innings this season. Romero, 24, the 25th pick of the 2017 draft who missed last season after Tommy John surgery, made his major league debut Thursday against the Mets and allowed four runs and struck out four over 1 2/3 innings.
■ Mets: X-rays on Jeff Mcneil’s left knee were negative, and the All-star was diagnosed with a bone contusion. He was carted off in the first inning at Citi Field after crashing into the wall in left field while robbing Asdrubal Cabrera of a two-run extra-base hit in the first inning of New York’s 8-2 win over Washington. A natural infielder, the 28-year-old has manned both outfield corners.
■ Phillies: Top prospect Alec Bohm was promoted to the majors, and center fielder Adam Haseley (left wrist sprain) was placed on the 10-day injured list. Bohm, a 24-year-old third baseman, was the third pick of the 2018 draft out of Wichita State. He batted .305 with 21 home runs over 125 games across three minor league levels in 2019.
■ Cubs: Bonanza product Kris Bryant was scratched from Chicago’s lineup because of soreness around his left ring finger and wrist.
The three-time All-star third baseman was to play left field. Manager David Ross said he doesn’t believe Bryant’s issue is serious.
■ Angels: Bishop Gorman product Taylor Cole said he underwent shoulder surgery Wednesday. The 30-year-old right-handed reliever was designated for assignment in March and outrighted back to the team after clearing waivers.
■ Red Sox: Infielder Christian Arroyo, 25, a former touted prospect with San Francisco, was claimed off waivers from Cleveland.
■ Rangers: Right-handed reliever Edinson Volquez (right oblique strain) was placed on the 45-day injured list.