New AL East Foe Takes Step Closer To MLB Return Against WooSox
A recent acquisition prepared for his major league return against his new competitor’s minor league affiliate.
The Toronto Blue Jays took a risk by landing Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians before the trade deadline. The 2020 American League Cy Young winner hasn’t pitched in an MLB game since April 2, 2024, but Toronto will hope he makes an instant impact in his return from Tommy John surgery.
Bieber made significant progress on Saturday, pitching 5 2/3 innings in a rehab start against Triple-A Worcester. He allowed two runs on four hits and one walk, collecting six strikeouts for the Buffalo Bisons.
The 30-year-old tossed 78 pitches at Polar Park. Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Bieber will aim to reach 85 pitches in his next rehab outing before they determine the next step.
“It looked good,” John Schneider said Saturday, per MLB.com’s Andrés Soto. “Between locations, stuff. Impressed with his changeup. He looked pretty good.”
In the fifth inning, WooSox catcher Nathan Hickey took Bieber deep for his 13th home run of the season. The right-hander held the streaking Kristian Campbell and Jhostynxon Garcia hitless when pitching against Richard Fitts, who notched eight strikeouts in four innings.
Bieber wasn’t the only major leaguer rehabbing for Toronto. Second baseman Andrés Giménez, sidelined since July 4 with a left ankle sprain, collected four hits in a 5-3 Bisons victory.
The Blue Jays will welcome those reinforcements during a tight division battle. They’re three games above the Red Sox entering Sunday’s action.