Shane Bieber’s return from injury continues with rehab start at Akron

For the first time, the rapid rise of Shane Bieber’s career was halted to the pause.

The Indians ace last threw a pitch in the majors on June 13 and has been out with a right subscapularis strain since. The return to throwing and rehab work was a slower one than anticipated.

In the time that Bieber missed, Cleveland’s rotation suffered through a myriad of injuries and young pitchers taking their lumps during their fall from playoff contention.

“It’s challenging. Frustrating. There’s a whole assortment of adjectives I could use,” Bieber said Sept. 19 about his injury after a rehab start with the Akron Rubberducks. “I feel good at this point. I feel healthy and good and hope to make a couple more starts to roll into the offseason and finish my rehab. That’s the first time I’ve ever had to go through something like this.

“It’s the first couple of starts I’ve missed since I was a freshman in college. I’m proud of how I’ve handled it each day. It’s easier said than done. I’m trying to come on the other side better for it. I feel better each day.”

In his first rehab start last week, Bieber threw 2.2 innings for Triple-A Columbus with three strikeouts and allowed a run. His follow-up rehab performance, while not his Cy Young results, should serve as a reason why the Indians should feel good about their ability to pencil in their ace back at the top of the rotation heading into 2022.

Against Somerset at Canal Park, Bieber allowed three runs, three hits, a walk, and four strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. The three runs allowed came off two homers — a 92 mph fastball on in the inner half of the plate, and a hanging slider.

“I felt good, first and foremost,” Bieber said. “I felt healthy. In any capacity, giving up runs in the big leagues or the minors, you don’t want to do it.”

Bieber threw his entire arsenal and was just off his usual command while getting his fastball up to 93. He had a better chance to compete and pitch like he would in a regular-season game in his second outing.

“That was the plan,” he said. “Ultimately I didn’t feel as sharp as I wanted to … There’s room to progress and grow. The next step is to sharpen things and in the next start be able to compete better. I haven’t been able to do that longer than expected. It’s going to take time to get back into the swing of things.”

The original timetable for Bielber’s return was 4 to 6 weeks, but from the day of the diagnosis, the training staff told the Indians ace he would have to be patient to come back.

Even with the Indians out of the playoff race, it’s still important to Bieber and the team to get healthy and pitch again before the end of the season.

“There’s a number of reasons I’ve been working towards this,” said Bieber. “I’ve always liked to keep things simple. This is my job. I love to do it. If I can’t because I’m on the IL, I’ll work twice as hard to come off and be better. If it’s one, two, or 12 (starts), it doesn’t matter to me.”

There’s no stated plan for Bieber’s next step in his rehab. He could make another start for Akron in the playoffs as they had a come-from-behind win against Somerset, 5-4, to clinch a playoff spot to play Bowie this week. Cleveland could opt to make his next start with them to get him an extra big-league start in 2021.