Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber hasn’t extended his contract with the organization and looks set to enter the open market after the conclusion of the 2024 season.
Still, that doesn’t mean the relationship between the two parties is sour: to the contrary, everyone is pulling for Bieber to have a rebound campaign.
It is in everybody’s best interests: if he does, he will earn more money in free agency, as teams will be more inclined to spend on him if they consider he is back to his elite ways.
The Guardians would love for him to dominate, too: it can increase his price tag via trade if they want to go that route, and it can aid their playoff push.
After averaging 91 mph with his fastball in the last two seasons (and a decreased strikeout rate as a result), Bieber has been throwing 93-94 mph gas in spring training.
Guardians Prospective explains why the velocity spike is so important.
“The increased velo #Guardians RHP Shane Bieber is showing from averaging 91 mph in 2023 to 93-94 today might not seem like a big deal but that creates more separation between his fastball and his other pitches which is extremely vital,” they tweeted.
The increased velo #Guardians RHP Shane Bieber is showing from averaging 91 mph in 2023 to 93-94 today might not seem like a big deal but that creates more separation between his fastball and his other pitches which is extremely vital.
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) March 2, 2024
Not only does 94 mph look very, very different from 91: it gives the hitter less time to react and put on a good swing.
It also creates separation between his hard stuff and his excellent breaking pitches, and makes the latter look way better.
It’s part of what was his recipe in the golden years, from 2018 to 2021.
This is a pitcher who once had a 41.1 percent strikeout rate, in 2020.
That came down to 33.1 percent in 2021, to 25 percent in 2022, and to 20.1 percent (a career-worst) last year.
If he can at least return to the 25-30 percent range, he can return to elite territory.
NEXT: Guardians Insider Notes Early Positive From Shane Bieber In 2024
