Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber will bear surgical procedure to restore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, the staff introduced Saturday. The Guardians didn’t specify whether or not Bieber may have Tommy John surgical procedure or the inner brace process. Both means, the damage will sideline him the remainder of the 2024 season.
Right here is the staff’s assertion:
Following his first begin in Oakland and subsequent begin in Seattle on April 2, Shane Bieber skilled a recurrence of medial proper elbow ache. This recurrence of signs prompted additional medical due diligence, together with imaging and analysis by our staff physicians. Imaging and evaluations confirmed the presence of a re-injury to Shane’s proximal ulnar collateral ligament. Further medical opinions from main sports activities drugs physicians, Drs. Keith Meister and Neal ElAttrache, confirmed the prognosis.
Given the recurrence of signs following an prolonged interval of relaxation and rehabilitation through the 2023 season and subsequent low season, surgical reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament has been beneficial. We’re within the technique of coordinating surgical procedure with Dr. Meister in Dallas.
Bieber was terrific in his two begins this season, placing out 20 and placing solely 11 runners on base (10 hits and one stroll) in 12 scoreless innings. His most up-to-date begin was Tuesday in opposition to the Seattle Mariners. Bieber fanned 9 in six shutout innings.
Elbow irritation sidelined Bieber for 2 months final season and restricted him to 21 begins and 128 innings. He recovered in time to make two begins in late September and he regarded good all through spring coaching, and in his first two common season begins this 12 months. Clearly although, his elbow isn’t proper, and he wants his ligament repaired.
It’s potential, perhaps even seemingly, Bieber has already thrown his ultimate pitch for Cleveland. He will likely be a free agent after the season and the low payroll Guardians are at all times unlikely to win a bidding conflict of that magnitude. Excessive-end starters usually nonetheless receives a commission nicely on short-term contracts even after they’re coming off damage.
Brandon Woodruff, for instance, returned to the Milwaukee Brewers on a two-year, $17.5 million contract in February. He’ll miss 2024 with shoulder surgical procedure. The contract pays him $2.5 million in 2024 and $15 million in 2025. Woodruff is 2 years older than Bieber and elbows are typically extra fixable than shoulders, so Bieber may command a bigger contract.
For the Guardians, the damage is a serious blow to a staff that’s 6-2 within the early going and will contend in a weak AL Central. They’re additionally with out righty Gavin Williams, who’s sidelined with elbow irritation, plus prime prospect Daniel Espino will miss 2024 following shoulder surgical procedure. Cleveland’s pitching depth has thinned significantly.
Additionally, the Guardians have a historical past of buying and selling prime gamers even whereas in competition (Trevor Bauer and Mike Clevinger, most notably). At minimal, they might have been in place to deal Bieber for a big package deal on the deadline. Now they’re confronted with dropping him for nothing as a free agent. It is an infinite blow to the group.
Bieber, 29 in Could, owns a profession 3.22 ERA in 843 innings spanning seven MLB seasons. He received the AL Cy Younger award through the shortened 2020 season. Tommy John surgical procedure would shelve Bieber till the center of 2025. The interior brace may have him again for Opening Day, or quickly thereafter.