Former American League Cy Younger winner Shane Bieber could possibly be again within the Guardians’ rotation earlier than the tip of the month. The 30-year-old righty, who underwent Tommy John surgical procedure final April, started a minor league rehab project Saturday when he pitched 2 1/3 innings for the Guards’ Rookie-level affiliate within the Arizona Complicated League and punched out 5 of 9 opponents.
Bieber’s subsequent begin is slated to come back on the Double-A stage on Thursday, reviews Zack Meisel of The Athletic, who provides that Bieber will probably take “about 4 weeks, give or take just a few days” earlier than returning to the majors (barring any setbacks). The utmost size for a pitcher’s rehab stint is mostly 30 days, so with Bieber already making one rehab begin final week, it’ll probably be just a few days shy of that four-week mark. Pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure can stand up to a few 10-day extensions to that rehab window with approval from the league and MLBPA.
If the Guards certainly plan to make use of round a 30-day rehab window, as Meisel implies, Bieber might make six rehab begins, with a ultimate look on June 25 (or thereabouts) earlier than being reinstated on the twenty ninth and making his massive league return on the thirtieth. Alternatively, they may carry him again into the MLB fold round that June 25 mark if issues go easily. The specifics of his return will rely upon how he fares within the weeks forward, however Guardians followers can start build up anticipation now that there’s a clock underway (once more, barring any setback that might end in Bieber being pulled again from rehab).
Bieber made solely two begins in 2024, his ultimate season of membership management in Cleveland, earlier than incurring his ill-timed damage. That’s to not say there’s ever a “good” time for a participant to undergo a UCL damage in fact, however doing so simply two weeks into one’s platform 12 months earlier than reaching the open market is especially sub-optimal. That’s all of the extra true provided that the right-hander seemed good in these two outings as he seemed to rebound from a pedestrian 2023 displaying. Bieber’s common fastball had ticked again as much as 92 mph after sitting 91.3 mph in every of the previous two seasons, per Statcast. His heater had been significantly restricted in April within the 2022-23 seasons, sitting underneath 91 mph in each. That made the velo uptick all of the extra encouraging.
Bieber didn’t enable a run in 12 innings final 12 months, and he struck out a comical 20 of his 45 opponents (44.4%) towards only one stroll (2.2%). Fifty p.c of the balls put in play towards him had been grounders. It was a pattern of simply two begins, granted, however it’s laborious to attract up a greater starting to a pitcher’s stroll 12 months — or a worse end than what shortly transpired thereafter.
Had Bieber loved a wholesome season, he may’ve been capable of command a nine-figure contract on the open market. As an alternative, he returned to the Guards on a two-year contract that ensures him $26MM. The second season of that contract is a participant possibility, nevertheless, so Bieber’s return effort deserves a watchful eye. He’s being paid $10MM this season and has a $16MM participant possibility with a $4MM buyout that he’d obtain upon declining. So long as he’s assured he can prime a one-year, $12MM deal — which appears overwhelmingly probably, as long as he’s wholesome — Bieber will head again to the open market at season’s finish. The Guards might then make him a qualifying supply.
Cleveland’s rotation has struggled with out its typical prime starter, rating twenty second within the majors with a collective 4.16 ERA. The Guardians additionally simply misplaced right-hander Ben Energetic, who leads the rotation with a 3.22 ERA, to his personal Tommy John process. Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee have posted practically similar 3.79 and three.86 ERAs, respectively, although the previous is doing despite an unsightly 13.2% stroll price he’ll want to enhance if he hopes to maintain a sub-4.00 ERA. Logan Allen (4.31 ERA) and Luis Ortiz (4.40 ERA) have each made not less than 10 begins and held their very own, although Allen’s 16.4% strikeout price and 11.4% stroll price make his efficiency really feel a bit suspect. Offseason commerce acquisition Slade Cecconi has been within the rotation just lately, making two superb begins to start his Guardians tenure earlier than a rocky third outing (5 runs in 4 1/3 innings). He’s sitting on a 5.28 ERA in 15 1/3 innings general.
All 5 present members of the Cleveland rotation could be optioned, which provides the Cleveland entrance workplace some flexibility as soon as Bieber is able to return.
