Blue Jays select CMU ace Pleiness
Jerry Hoffman
Pleiness was drafted 146th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in round five of the Major League Baseball draft.
“I am just sitting back and enjoying it with my family and friends,” Pleiness said.
Pleiness said he was online following the draft before a couple of his friends called him to tell him he had been drafted.
“I found out from my friends, but while we were online the Blue Jays were trying to call here,” Pleiness said.
The right-handed pitcher finished his senior campaign with a 6-3 record and a 3.31 earned run average. He struck out 100 batters in 68 innings of work.
“It’s an exciting time for him. He has a young arm and the Blue Jays liked that big strong frame of his,” said CMU Head Coach Judd Folske of the 6’6” Pleiness.
Pleiness said the Blue Jays have been looking at him for about two years.
“Their scout followed me a lot last summer and even came out a few times the summer before,” Pleiness said.
He will report to Short-A League and will play for Auburn of the New York-Penn League. The league will start in a couple of weeks.
“The Blue Jays representative told my father that they are willing to move people up through the organization,” Pleiness said. “I am looking forward to working with Major League coaching and seeing what they say is right for me. Hopefully I am able to develop some better speed and become a better pitcher.”
The Scotsville native is looking forward to devoting all of his time to baseball in hope of becoming a better pitcher and making it to the Major Leagues.
“I have never been to Toronto but if I make it there it would be fun,” he said.
For former coach Folske, Pleiness is doing what he once attempted.
“I was chasing the dream in the mid-’60s and he is chasing the dream in the 2002,” Folske said. “He is a good kid and will work daily because he will push himself and won’t stop until he succeeds.”
