Shane Bieber, the ace pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians, generated excitement among fans with a recent video showcasing his offseason progress. Bieber has been dedicated to training at Driveline, a renowned facility that now serves as the offseason training destination for numerous major league players.
The sight of Bieber’s increased velocity and the return of his curveball to its 2020 form is incredibly uplifting for Guardians fans and their new manager, Stephen Vogt. While there were discussions about potentially trading Bieber during the offseason, no such move has materialized, indicating that he is poised to once again lead the Guardians’ rotation.
Shane Bieber (@ShaneBieber19) wrapped up his off-season @DrivelineBB with a bang!
π Average 93.2 MPH
10 heaters > 93 MPH, surpassing his entire 2023 (8).
π Curveball revived
Session: 83.7 MPH | 14" VB
2020π₯: 83.6 MPH | 14" VBLooks like he's back in business… π₯ pic.twitter.com/C2ykEyyX0K
— Chris Langin (@LanginTots13) February 10, 2024
At 28 years old, Bieber earned the Cy Young Award in the 2020 season but faced challenges in the following year, posting a 6-6 record for the Guardians while contending with injuries, resulting in a 3.80 ERA.
Throughout his career, Bieber holds an impressive 60-32 record with a 3.27 ERA, underscoring the importance of returning him to peak performance for Cleveland to remain competitive in the American League Central division.
Despite finishing third in the Central division last season, Cleveland’s rotation was significantly impacted by injuries. However, with Bieber potentially staying healthy alongside Tristan McKenzie, Vogt’s team could still boast a formidable rotation. The primary concern will be whether they can muster enough offensive production to remain competitive in the increasingly competitive division.
