In his initial major league appearance since April 2, 2024, Shane Bieber toed the rubber on Friday night, facing off against the Miami Marlins in what also marked his first showing with the Toronto Blue Jays. The seasoned right-hander delivered a noteworthy performance, carrying the load in a 5-2 Toronto triumph:
According to the CBS Sports research department, Bieber stands alone as the singular pitcher in the Blue Jays’ history to achieve a feat of at least nine strikeouts while conceding no more than two hits and issuing zero walks in his inaugural appearance with the squad. Bieber navigated through the six innings with 87 pitches (55 landing for strikes), inducing five ground ball outs against two instances of the ball being hit into the air. There was a notable increase in his fastball’s speed when compared to his average over the previous three campaigns. Bieber utilized his complete arsenal of five different pitch types to neutralize the Marlins’ offense, securing 14 swings that missed the mark during the contest — the initial strikeout occurring on his signature knuckle-curve:
Delve deeper into Bieber’s return to the mound:
The only imperfection on Bieber’s record materialized in the second frame, when Javier Sanoja belted a solo home run. During the fourth inning, Bieber managed to strike out every batter he faced, and he prevented his second hit of the game until the sixth inning unfolded.
Bieber had been on the sidelines for over a year recovering from Tommy John surgery. Prior to reintegrating into Toronto’s pitching staff, he participated in seven rehabilitation assignments within the minor leagues, where he showcased a 1.86 earned run average and an impressive 12.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio across a total of 29 innings pitched.
“For a period of time, I’ve been aware of my readiness,” Bieber communicated to the press recently. “The primary focus was escalating the pitch count.”
Bieber, now 30 years of age, had previously dedicated his entire professional career to the Cleveland Guardians organization. However, he was dealt during the trade period, with Toronto surrendering pitching talent Khal Stephen in exchange. Across seven seasons with Cleveland, Bieber posted a 3.22 ERA (adjusted ERA+ of 133) and a 5.10 strikeout-to-walk rate, in addition to generating 17.8 Wins Above Replacement.
Bieber received the prestigious 2020 American League Cy Young Award and garnered recognition on three supplementary occasions. Further accolades include two selections to the All-Star team and being presented with a Gold Glove Award in 2022.
As a result of the victory, the Blue Jays now possess a 75-54 record, giving them a five-game advantage within the AL East division. If Toronto maintains their position, this will signify the team’s first divisional title achievement since the 2015 season.
