He developed a knack for hitting home runs in the minor leagues and skipped the Double-A level altogether.

Plantier first entered the major leagues in 1990 after a midseason call-up from the Pawtucket Red Sox and primarily served as a pinch hitter, but did not play enough for it to be considered his rookie year.

On June 13, 1997, the Padres traded Plantier, Fernando Valenzuela, and Scott Livingstone to the St. Louis Cardinals for Rich Batchelor, Danny Jackson, and Mark Sweeney.

Plantier signed as a free agent with Toronto Blue Jays in 1998, but did not appear in any major league games with the club.

In 2011, Plantier was named hitting coach, then assigned manager during mid-season for the Lake Elsinore Storm, a Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

[6] In 2021, Plantier was hired as hitting coach for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, the Miami Marlins' Triple-A affiliate where he spent two seasons.