Indians take Zach Plesac, Mike Clevinger off restricted list

The Cleveland Indians activated pitchers Zach Plesac and Mike Clevinger from the restricted list Friday and optioned them to the team's alternate training site.

They had been placed on the restricted list Tuesday for violating MLB protocols related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Plesac posted a six-minute video on his Instagram page Thursday to "get out the truth" to fans, saying he and Clevinger were being unfairly portrayed as "bad teammates, bad people and dragged across the mud."

He acknowledged breaking team curfew Saturday when 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 as the Indians beat the White Sox.

After the Indians were told by Major League Baseball 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.

On Tuesday, Indians pitcher Adam Plutko said Plesac and Clevinger had "hurt us bad. They lied to us." On Wednesday, manager Terry Francona said Plesac and Clevinger "got some trust to earn back, and they're gonna have to earn that back."

Plesac said Thursday he and Clevinger were within CDC guidelines when they left the team hotel and were never with "more than eight people the entire night."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.