The Cleveland Guardians faced a devastating blow to their 2024 season just eight games in, as pitcher Shane Bieber was announced to undergo surgery to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. This injury will keep him out of the rest of the season. Dr. Keith Meister, an orthopedic surgeon from Dallas, will perform the procedure, though a date has yet to be scheduled.
Despite experiencing pain in his elbow during his Opening Day start against the Oakland Athletics and again during his second appearance against the Seattle Mariners, Bieber continued to pitch brilliantly, striking out 11 batters and allowing only four hits over six innings on Opening Day and recording nine strikeouts in six scoreless innings against the Mariners. Subsequent tests revealed the injury, leading to the recommendation for Tommy John surgery.
Last season, Bieber struggled with inflammation in his right elbow that limited him to just 128 innings and 21 starts. His performance suffered as he posted his lowest strikeout rate in six seasons and second-highest ERA. This injury could potentially mark the end of Bieber’s time with the Guardians as he is set to become a free agent after this season.
Despite facing surgery, Bieber is expected to be highly sought after by teams looking for a dominant starting pitcher in MLB’s free agent market. Over seven seasons in MLB, Bieber has proven himself as one of the best pitchers in the league, posting a 3.22 ERA and 62-32 record while averaging 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The Guardians hold second place in AL Central with a 6-2 record after one week into the season, trailing Detroit Tigers by just half a game.
