The Cleveland Guardians are getting ready to welcome their ace back to the mound.
Shane Bieber recently made a strong impression in a rehab start at the Arizona Complex League.
Bieber, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, pitched two innings, struck out five, issued one walk and allowed just one hit.
Cleveland #Guardians RHP Shane Bieber's final line vs the Dodgers in his rehab start tonight in the Arizona Complex League.
Line – 2.0(IP) 1H 0R 0ER 1BB 5SO
Bieber struckout five of the eight batters he faced.#GuardsBall
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) July 16, 2025
He struck out five of the eight batters he faced.
This is great news, considering he had suffered a setback in his recovery.
He had surgery in April 2024, and he experienced some soreness during a bullpen session this June.
He had another bullpen session in Cleveland before this rehab start.
Last season, Bieber was 2-0 in two starts, striking out 20 hitters in 12 scoreless innings.
The Guardians rewarded him with a $14 million, one-year contract that includes a $16 million player option for the 2026 season.
Getting him back in the rotation could give the team a huge boost for the rest of the season.
In the meantime, Slade Cecconi has taken over as the de facto ace, ahead of Tanner Bibee.
Bibee hasn’t lived up to expectations, mostly due to inconsistency, but he’s shown some good stuff and vowed to be better.
The Guardians aren’t out of the AL Wild Card race, and though it won’t be easy, their remaining schedule is more forgiving, and getting Bieber back will certainly help their cause.
NEXT: Nick Swisher Has An Honest Admission About His Time In Cleveland
