Guardians' Bieber Starts Second Rehab Assignment Ahead Possible June Return

Shane Bieber, the 2020 American League Cy Young winner, is progressing steadily in his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery performed in April 2024. He made his first rehab appearance on his 30th birthday, pitching 2⅓ scoreless innings with five strikeouts for the Arizona Complex League team, and is scheduled to make his second rehab start for the Double-A Akron RubberDucks. Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti highlighted Bieber's strong fastball velocity and the development of his changeup, emphasizing a careful and deliberate progression plan to ensure Bieber can pitch effectively for the remainder of the season upon his return. If all goes according to plan, Bieber could rejoin the Cleveland Guardians rotation between late June and early July, providing a significant boost to a struggling pitching staff. Bieber’s rehab includes expanding his pitching arsenal and building up innings volume, compensating for the lack of a normal spring training foundation. His return is highly anticipated, as the Guardians re-signed him to a one-year, $10 million deal with a player option for 2026 despite his injury setbacks in recent seasons.