CLEVELAND — Shane Bieber is set to make his second rehab start on Thursday, raising hopes of his return to the Cleveland Guardians’ pitching rotation by late June or early July. The right-handed pitcher, who underwent Tommy John surgery last April, is scheduled to pitch for the Double-A Akron RubberDucks. This follows his successful outing in an Arizona Complex League game where he threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings, struck out five batters, and allowed only one hit. Bieber, who celebrated his 30th birthday recently, showed promising performance levels during the game, with his fastball clocking in at an average of 93 mph.
Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations for Cleveland, expressed his satisfaction with Bieber’s comeback. “It was really fun to watch Shane just get back out in a competitive setting,” Antonetti remarked ahead of the Guardians’ match against the Los Angeles Angels. He highlighted Bieber’s work on enhancing some complementary pitches and adjustments in his pitch profile, noting that his changeup showcased greater depth.
Bieber is likely to continue his rehabilitation in Northeast Ohio, as Cleveland’s main affiliates—located in Columbus, Akron, and Eastlake—are all within a close driving range from Progressive Field. The Guardians plan for Bieber to throw approximately 50 pitches in Thursday’s game as part of his preparation. With the anticipated schedule, Bieber could potentially rejoin the team’s rotation during the homestand between June 25 and 29, where they are set to face off against the Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals.
While Antonetti expressed optimism about Bieber’s return, he emphasized the need for caution. “We want to ensure that we’re deliberate in helping him get back to a point where he can pitch throughout the remainder of the season without issues,” he explained, particularly considering Bieber’s recovery from Tommy John surgery.
Bieber’s return, whenever it occurs, is expected to bolster a rotation that has faced its share of challenges in the season’s early months. At the time, Guardians’ starters were grappling with the fourth-highest ERA in the American League at 4.25. Tanner Bibee’s record stood at 4-5 with a 3.86 ERA, and Ben Lively was preparing for Tommy John surgery.
Last fall, Bieber agreed to a one-year, $14 million contract, with a $16 million player option for 2026. Heading into Sunday, Cleveland (31-26) was positioned six games behind Detroit in the AL Central but held one of the three wildcard spots.
Discussing the team’s prospects, Antonetti noted, “I think we’re right in the mix. What we’re aiming for is more consistency across all facets of the game, whether that’s in starting pitching, our bullpen, defense, or offense.” He expressed optimism about the team’s potential, pointing out that a promising season lies ahead, particularly with a young team.