Shane Bieber nearing return for Blue Jays after elbow recovery
The 2020 Cy Young winner completed a rehab stint and could be activated within days, manager John Schneider said.
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Shane Bieber is close to pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays again. The 31-year-old right-hander rejoined the team Friday in Chicago and could be activated from the injured list in the next few days, manager John Schneider said.
Bieber, the 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner, hasn't pitched this season after being placed on the 15-day injured list in March with elbow inflammation. He was later transferred to the 60-day IL.
He just completed a five-game rehab assignment with triple-A Buffalo, throwing 80 pitches in a Wednesday start where he allowed five runs and 11 baserunners over five-plus innings. His velocity reached 93 miles per hour.
After joining the team in Chicago, Bieber will throw a side session at Wrigley Field on Saturday to address "some housekeeping stuff," Schneider said. "All signs point towards he'll be ready to go."
Toronto acquired Bieber from Cleveland at last year's trade deadline. He went 4-2 with a 3.57 earned-run average in seven regular-season starts for the Blue Jays and 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in five playoff games as Toronto advanced to Game 7 of the World Series against Los Angeles.
Bieber exercised his $16 million player option in the off-season to stay with the Blue Jays.