Guardians' Shane Bieber Postpones Rehab Start After Elbow Setback

Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber, recovering from Tommy John surgery performed last April, has suffered a setback in his rehab due to soreness in his surgically repaired elbow following a bullpen session. This unexpected development forced Bieber to be scratched from a scheduled rehab start with the Double-A Akron RubberDucks, delaying his anticipated return to the majors, which was initially expected to occur late in June 2025. Bieber had shown promising signs during his first rehab start with the Arizona Complex League affiliate, striking out five batters over 2 1/3 scoreless innings, but the recent discomfort has prompted a consultation with Dr. Keith Meister, the surgeon who performed Bieber's Tommy John procedure. The Guardians are expected to provide further updates soon, but the club will likely proceed with caution, as Bieber's health is critical to their pitching rotation and season aspirations. Bieber, who re-signed with Cleveland on a $10 million contract for 2025 with a player option for 2026, was a key figure in the Guardians' recent success and his return remains a priority despite the current delay. Meanwhile, Cleveland continues to rely on other starters like Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, and Luis Ortiz as they navigate a competitive American League Central division.