Kevin Plawecki Makes MLB Mound Debut

Former Big Ten Player of the Year Kevin Plawecki has had an up and down Major League career since making his MLB debut in 2015. He has been up and down between the Mets and triple-A, but got called up to the big club for the first time in 2017 on April 20th. In that time he has played sparingly, notching only five at bats in four games.

Today, however, he had a career first.

With the Mets down 19-5 to the Nationals they sent him into the game...

... to pitch.

Plawecki never pitched at Purdue or in the minors. I don’t think he pitched much for Westfield High School before Purdue. A depleted bullpen meant he had to go out there.

The first inning went well. He pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning with three fly ball outs. All was going well even though they were down 19-5.

Then you had the 8th inning.

Plawecki was roughed up in the 8th, giving up a home run to Bryce Harper, a single to Ryan Zimmerman, a home run to Adam Lind, and a home run to Anthony Rendon. That was in four consecutive at bats.

Plawecki got out of the inning with a ground out and two flyouts, but it doesn’t look like his position switch will be permanent. He had better leave the late inning pitching to former teammate Nick Wittgren, who is in Triple-A with the Marlins.

Washington officially won the game 23-5.