Rookie Pitcher Zach Plesac off to a hot start with the Cleveland Indians.

Tom Pennington | Getty Images

After beginning the season in Triple A, Zach Plesac was brought up to pitch for the Cleveland Indians on May 28th.  Since then, he has had the lowest ERA on the team and his been starting off very strong on a lineup of already deep pitchers.  The Crown Point native and former Ball State player joins the show to talk to DD to talk about his story on getting to the MLB and what it is like to be from a baseball family as his uncle Dan Plesac also played in the MLB for 18 years.

Why do you believe you were brought up to the Cleveland Indians so quickly after your time in the minors at the beginning of the season?

“I think what it came down to was that I was out of college and had another year out of college before I even began my career.  I had finished school and wanted to show I was on a more grown level in my career so I moved forward and got my degree.  I wanted to show the Indians that I was taking care of business off the field and on the field, they knew I was going to work hard.  They knew I was going to stick to my routine and be consistent with the work ethic and then come season time it’s just where the dogs come out.  You gotta come out and compete and win games.  I moved pretty quick, I hit about every single level in the minor leagues besides the AZL.  I worked my way up, had all the coaches and numerous teammates and next thing you know, I’m in the big leagues pitching at Fenway.”

When you faced your first bat in the Major Leagues?  Who was it and what happened?

“It was Mookie Betts.  First pitch was outside and missed.  I had the jitter fingers, I felt like I was holding a golf ball on the throw.  I was so nervous.  Second pitch I threw was a fastball 2-seam.  Ran over and beat him on his hands a little bit and he hit it to third base and it was the first out.”

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