Shane Bieber Faces Setback in Rehab
After undergoing Tommy John surgery last April, Shane Bieber vowed to be honest about his rehabilitation process.
Despite this initial setback, the Cleveland Guardians’ ace tries to maintain an optimistic attitude.
Bieber is in a seven-day pause period in his pitching program, due to discomfort in his right elbow after his first rehab start on May 31 and a bullpen session on Tuesday.
The right-handed pitcher was scheduled to make his second rehabilitation start with the Double-A Akron team on Friday, but it was suspended.
My mind went back to a very close friend who told me a few weeks or a few months ago when I was starting bullpens. He told me: ‘Just don’t freak out. If you have a setback, everyone has at least one.’ I was hoping to be that anomaly, but at the same time, maybe it’s just part of the process and I’m trying to listen to my elbow and my body and do what’s best for me and the team in the long run.
Shane Bieber
Bieber will be evaluated again in the middle of next week, at which time the team’s medical staff and the specialist, Dr. Keith Meister, will decide on the next steps.
On May 31, his 30th birthday, Bieber pitched 21⅓ scoreless innings in an Arizona Complex League game. The 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner faced nine batters, allowed one hit, and struck out five, throwing 42 pitches.Bieber, who agreed to a one-year, $14 million contract last fall with a $16 million player option for 2026, appeared to be on track to return to the Guardians’ rotation in late June, but that could be delayed until after the All-Star break.I’m a little frustrated with the timing, as I get to Cleveland and join the team, but unfortunately, these rehabilitation processes aren’t exactly linear. I’ve had a fantastic progression up to this point. A small setback, but let’s hope we leave it at that.
Shane Bieber
Cleveland (33-29) entered Saturday 7 1/2 games behind Detroit in the American League Central, and half a game out of a wild-card spot.
Guardians’ starters have the sixth-highest ERA in the American League (4.11).
