It’s been a long and rocky road for Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber.
It’s never easy to return after a lengthy absence, not even for the hardest-working and most talented players.
That’s why the pitcher found comfort by reaching out to some colleagues who went through what he’s going through right now.
Bieber revealed that he’s been in constant talks with two All-Star pitchers to discuss the recovery from Tommy John surgery.
“I remember when I got surgery, a couple of guys like Matt Boyd, Alex Cobb, they’re guys that I’ve been able to lean on. They’re like, ‘It’s gonna be a long, long year and a half. Rehab is very hard.’ I’ve just affirmed that I continue to want to be resilient, dedicated, disciplined, motivated, so I continue to do that,” Bieber said, via Leah Doherty of Cleveland 19 News,
#Guardians Shane Bieber on what he's learned about himself throughout his lengthy rehab:
Said he got advice from Matt Boyd and Alex Cobb who've had Tommy John surgery. pic.twitter.com/xFk8XsJCGz
— Leah Doherty (@LeahDohertyTV) July 23, 2025
Bieber was Cleveland’s No. 1 option in the rotation, and not having him was a big blow.
Then again, the team chose to bring him back on a lucrative one-year contract to make sure he was there once he got back to full strength.
He was expected to make his season debut at some point in late June or early July.
Unfortunately, he suffered a setback with some swelling on his elbow, so the team shut him down for a week and chose to take things slowly with him.
He hasn’t suffered any more setbacks, and he’s on a 40-45 pitch count after his first rehab assignment.
The Guardians will need him to be as sharp as he’s always been late in the season to secure a spot in the playoffs.
In the meantime, he will continue to be patient, trust the process, and take things one day at a time.
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