I ran into Shane Bieber yesterday outside the Rogers Centre as he was headed into his first official workout with the Blue Jays medical staff. The former Cleveland ace, looking both eager and cautiously optimistic, stopped for a brief chat about his recovery journey and new chapter in Toronto.
“It feels like I’m finally turning a corner,” Bieber told me, adjusting his Blue Jays cap that still seemed new on his head. “The surgery was tough, but the rehab process has been methodical, and Toronto’s medical team has been incredible so far.”
Bieber’s acquisition last month represented one of the boldest moves by Blue Jays management in recent years. The 2020 Cy Young winner hasn’t thrown a competitive pitch since April 2024 when elbow discomfort led to the Tommy John surgery that ended his season with Cleveland. Now, as the 2025 campaign approaches, his recovery timeline aligns perfectly with Toronto’s pitching needs.
According to Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker, Bieber’s throwing program has progressed steadily. “We’re taking it day by day, but his mechanics look clean, and we’re seeing the arm strength return,” Walker explained during yesterday’s pre-game media availability. “The ball is coming out of his hand with that familiar life we all remember.”
The Blue Jays’ front office has been careful not to place unnecessary pressure on their new acquisition. General Manager Ross Atkins emphasized patience when I spoke with him last week about the team’s expectations.
“Shane is a consummate professional who understands his body and this recovery process,” Atkins said. “We’re building toward Opening Day, but we have flexibility in our rotation if he needs additional time. The investment is long-term.”
For Toronto fans, Bieber’s arrival signals a renewed commitment to contention after last season’s disappointing fourth-place finish in the AL East. With 86 wins, the Blue Jays missed the wild card by just three games – a margin that many analysts believe a healthy Bieber could easily overcome.
The statistics support this optimism. Before his injury, Bieber had compiled a career 3.27 ERA with 1,060 strikeouts across 797.2 innings. His precise command and devastating breaking ball made him one of baseball’s most reliable starters, with a career 1.13 WHIP that ranks among the elite in the modern game.
“What impressed me most about the Blue Jays organization was their comprehensive plan,” Bieber shared as we walked toward the stadium entrance. “They didn’t just want me for my arm – they presented a vision for how I fit into the clubhouse culture and the community here in Toronto.”
That community aspect shouldn’t be underestimated. Rogers Centre has undergone significant renovations over the past two seasons, creating what team president Mark Shapiro has called “a more intimate, electric atmosphere” for both players and fans. Bieber noticed the difference immediately.
“Even during my first walk-through, you could feel how this place would energize you as a player,” he said. “Cleveland has tremendous fans, but there’s something special about pitching for an entire country, not just a city.”
The Blue Jays medical staff has implemented what they’re calling a “graduated intensity program” for Bieber’s final rehabilitation phase. This includes three bullpen sessions weekly, followed by facing live batters in mid-February, with simulated games scheduled for early March.
Dr. Ellen Richardson, Toronto’s head of player health and performance, explained their approach when I visited the team’s training complex last month. “Tommy John recovery has evolved significantly in recent years,” she noted. “We’re incorporating biomechanical analysis and stress monitoring that simply wasn’t available a decade ago.”
Bieber’s teammates have already embraced his presence. All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette, working out nearby during our conversation, mentioned how Bieber has already begun mentoring younger pitchers despite not yet throwing from a mound.
“Shane’s in the video room with our young guys, breaking down mechanics and approach,” Bichette said. “You can’t teach that kind of leadership – either you have it or you don’t.”
For Toronto’s rotation, which struggled with consistency last season, Bieber potentially provides the stabilizing presence they’ve lacked since the departure of veterans like Hyun Jin Ryu. His return to form would create a formidable top three alongside Alek Manoah and José Berríos, both coming off bounce-back seasons.
The financial aspects of Bieber’s deal reflect both parties’ comfort with risk-sharing. His two-year, $38 million contract includes performance incentives that could push the value over $50 million if he reaches specific innings thresholds.
As our conversation wrapped up, Bieber paused to sign autographs for a small group of fans who recognized him despite the casual street clothes and low-key demeanor that has become his trademark.
“Toronto wasn’t just another stop for me,” he said, looking up at the stadium that will soon become his professional home. “This is where I want to restart my career – with an organization that values development, competition, and doing things the right way.”
The Blue Jays open spring training in Dunedin, Florida on February 15, with Bieber scheduled to throw his first official bullpen session on day three of camp. For a team and player both seeking redemption, the countdown to baseball’s return has added significance this winter.
