Report: Cleveland's Zach Plesac Sent Home for Violating MLB's COVID-19 Protocols

Cleveland sent starting pitcher Zach Plesac home after he violated Major League Baseball's health and safety protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Ken Rosenthal and Zack Meisel of The Athletic.

Per that report, Plesac "upset teammates and club officials by going out with friends in Chicago on Saturday night."

Plesac released the following statement Sunday night:

Cleveland is trying to prevent an outbreak of the coronavirus like the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals have dealt with, leading both teams to postpone a number of games already this season.

Per The Athletic's report, the team "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."

If he's forced to miss additional time, it will be a major loss for Cleveland. Plesac, 25, has been excellent thus far, going 1-1 in three starts with a 1.29 ERA, 0.66 WHIP and 24 strikeouts across 21 innings. Cleveland has gotten off to a solid 9-7 start and, given the shortened season and expanded playoffs, has legitimate postseason aspirations.

There's also the question of how Plesac will be welcomed back into the clubhouse once he's cleared. Pitcher Mike Clevinger said in July the players were hoping to enforce the health and safety rules themselves:

"This isn't going to be a 'run to daddy' kind of thing. We're going to handle it in-house. This is a player discipline thing. Keep the coaches, front office kind of out of it. It puts a little extra accountability, kind of. Just having that trust in your teammates is a big thing. It's a big thing on the field. If you feel your teammate doesn't trust you off the field how are you going to feel like he trusts you when you get between the lines?"

That's a question Plesac will have to answer to his teammates upon his return to the team.