In the 2024 season, the Cleveland Guardians received devastating news about one of their top players. Pitcher Shane Bieber will undergo surgery to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, which means he will miss the rest of the season. The surgery is set to be performed by Dallas orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister at a yet-to-be-determined date.
Bieber, who will turn 29 in May, first felt pain in his elbow during the Opening Day game against the Oakland Athletics. Despite being uncomfortable, he struck out 11 batters and allowed only four hits over six innings. However, the pain persisted in his next game against the Seattle Mariners, where he still excelled with nine strikeouts in six scoreless innings. Further tests and scans revealed the extent of his injury, leading to the recommendation of Tommy John surgery.
Last season, Bieber faced inflammation in his right elbow, limiting his playing time to 128 innings and 21 starts. This resulted in his lowest strikeout rate and second-highest ERA in the prior six seasons. The injury puts Bieber’s future with the Guardians in question as he is set to become a free agent after this season and is expected to draw interest from teams seeking a top starting pitcher.
Despite this setback, Bieber has been an exceptional player in MLB for seven consecutive seasons, boasting a 3.22 ERA, a 62–32 record, and an average of 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. As of now, the Guardians are currently sitting atop AL Central division with a record of 6–2 after just one week into the season.
The loss of Bieber may significantly affect Cleveland’s chances of making it to postseason playoffs this year as he was considered one of their top starters alongside Corey Kluber and Mike Clevinger.
