TORONTO – Shane Bieber hopes to be a preferred pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays down the stretch, however realizes that in his new dwelling, he’ll be the second most well-known Bieber after Canadian pop icon Justin Bieber.
The Blue Jays’ Bieber as soon as wore a jersey with “Not Justin” on the again throughout a gamers’ weekend in 2019, which prompted Canada’s Bieber to don a “Not Shane Bieber” shirt just a few weeks later.
“Nicely, it seems I’m most likely the second most well-known Bieber in most cities,” stated the 30-year-old righty who arrived in Toronto on Friday to satisfy supervisor John Schneider, his new teammates, coaches and help workers.
The Blue Jays acquired Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians earlier than Thursday’s commerce deadline in change for right-handed pitching prospect Khal Stephen.
Bieber made the 4 1/2-hour drive from Cleveland, the place he was put by way of the ringer by customs officers on the border.
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“They shook me down,” Bieber stated with a smile. “It was nothing too loopy. As soon as I acquired there, we acquired out of the automotive and defined the state of affairs. I acquired my papers and made my means.”
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When will Bieber, who underwent Tommy John surgical procedure on April 12, 2024, make his approach to the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays?
Final Tuesday, he made his fourth rehab begin, this time for double-A Akron with a four-inning, 59-pitch outing, giving up three hits, together with a homer.
He’s slated to pitch Sunday for triple-A Buffalo and hopes to go 5 innings and 70 to 75 pitches. After his subsequent outing, he and the Blue Jays will decide what’s subsequent.
“The medical workers in Cleveland adopted (a one-game-at-a-time) mentality, and I feel these guys have as effectively, and I do know that they’re gonna take nice care of me,” Bieber stated. “Like I stated, I really feel nice.”
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Bieber threw a light-weight bullpen session for Toronto pitching coach Pete Walker earlier than Friday’s sequence opener in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Royals.
“I’m most happy with not eager about my well being, and that claims so much about how far I’ve come post-surgery, the place my physique’s at, the place my arm’s at,” Bieber stated. “I’m centered on ramping as much as compete within the large leagues, and that’s a enjoyable place to be. That’s what I’ve missed.”
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Bieber did his homework as to what to anticipate after Tommy John surgical procedure. He’s bent the ear of former teammates Matt Boyd and Alex Cobb, who each made robust recoveries from Tommy John surgical procedure.
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He’ll carry some post-season expertise to the American League East-leading Blue Jays. The 2020 Cy Younger Award winner has pitched within the playoffs twice, in his Cy Younger season and once more in 2022.
“My preliminary response was I used to be excited,” he stated of being traded to the Blue Jays. “I wasn’t completely anticipating it, however I wasn’t shocked.”
How the Blue Jays match Bieber into the beginning rotation when he’s prepared stays to be seen. The newcomer, nevertheless, is open to a six-pitcher rotation if Schneider and Walker determine to ease Bieber again and provides the veteran workers some relaxation.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Aug. 1, 2025.
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