Guardians' ex-star making MLB comeback after time in independent ball

It really isn't that long ago that Zach Plesac looked like a staple for the future of the Cleveland Guardians' rotation.

But until Friday, he hadn't even been in an MLB-affiliated organization this season.

Plesac most recently made seven starts for the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League. 

In those starts, Plesac had a 2.84 ERA.

That earned him a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, who assigned him to Triple-A Memphis.

Plesac's best season for Cleveland came in 2020, when he had a 2.28 ERA.

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Since then, he has a 4.86 ERA in 58 appearances at the MLB level, according to MLB Trade Rumors.

The Cardinals have signed Plesac as a bit of depth behind a starting rotation that has stayed very healthy so far.

Sonny Gray, Miles Mikolas, Matthew Liberatore, Andre Pallante and Erick Fedde have all made a dozen starts on the season.

Plesac is already stretched out as a starter, given his time in the Atlantic League. If St. Louis needs someone in a pinch, he'll be ready to get back to the majors.

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