The Cleveland Guardians received devastating news as their ace pitcher, Shane Bieber, will be undergoing season-ending Tommy John elbow surgery. This comes as a major blow to the team and to Bieber himself, who won the Cy Young award in 2020. After experiencing pain following an Opening Day start in Oakland and again during a game against Seattle, Bieber underwent imaging tests that confirmed the need for reconstructive surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament. The recovery time for this surgery can be up to 16 months, leaving a significant gap in the Guardians’ pitching rotation.
Guardians president of baseball operations, Chris Antonetti, expressed Shane Bieber’s devastation over the injury. Antonetti highlighted Bieber’s professionalism, teamwork, and leadership qualities, reassuring him that he is not letting anyone down. Despite pitching 12 scoreless innings with 20 strikeouts in his first two starts of the season, Bieber was dealing with elbow pain that only worsened over time. The hope was that rest would alleviate the discomfort, but the decision for surgery was ultimately made by Bieber after being examined upon his return to Cleveland.
Bieber, who is entering the final year of his contract with the Guardians, made the tough decision to undergo surgery to address his elbow issues. Dr. Keith Meister will be performing the surgery in Dallas in the near future. Throughout his career with Cleveland, Bieber has been a pivotal player, boasting a record of 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA in 134 career starts. His performance in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season was exceptional, leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts.
The injury to Shane Bieber adds to the list of setbacks for Cleveland’s pitching staff. With reliever Trevor Stephan also undergoing Tommy John surgery and Gavin Williams recovering from elbow soreness, the team will have to rely on other players to step up in Bieber’s absence. Despite the challenges ahead, Antonetti emphasized that it is impossible to replace Bieber’s impact on the team both as a player and as a leader. The Guardians, who are off to a 6-2 start under first-year manager Stephen Vogt, will need to adjust and find ways to compete in the American League Central without their ace on the mound.
As Shane Bieber begins his road to recovery, the Cleveland Guardians will have to navigate the remainder of the season without their star pitcher. The team will be looking for other players to fill the void left by Bieber’s absence and to continue their push for success in the American League Central. Despite the challenges that lie ahead, the Guardians remain optimistic about their prospects and are hopeful that Bieber will make a full recovery and return to the mound stronger than ever.