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'A real organizational success story': Tanner Bibee's progression as No. 1 starter complete
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- 'A real organizational success story': Tanner Bibee's progression as No. 1 starter complete
Tanner Bibee stood on the mound in the seventh inning of a May game against the Minnesota Twins , the Guardians clinging onto a one-run and his pitch count rising. He was determined to finish the inning, but with two outs had just walked a batter on four pitches — not ideal.
The bullpen was ready . Bibee was visibly upset with himself on the mound for having not finished the job. But as manager Stephen Vogt reached the mound, he didn't motion to the bullpen. Instead, Bibee was challenged .
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And he responded to it, calmly striking out now-teammate Carlos Santana before erupting into emotion as he walked off the mound.
That moment could serve as a microcosm of the biggest element of growth for a pitcher who throughout 2024 transitioned into the unquestioned No. 1 starter in the Guardians rotation.
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) reacts after striking out Minnesota Twins first baseman Carlos Santana (not pictured) to end the seventh inning on May 19, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Although the bullpen received the attention and accolades — it was deserved, considering the historic numbers that were put up — Bibee was everything the Guardians needed him to be in 2024. Shane Bieber was lost to Tommy John surgery. Gavin Williams missed the first half of the season and never looked quite right in the second half. Triston McKenzie lost the strike zone and was sent to Columbus.
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Bibee soldiered on as one of the club's only sources of dependability, posting a 3.47 ERA in his first full season in the majors. Then, in the postseason, as the bullpen threatened to be overstretched and the Guardians desperately needed a starter to step up, he posted a 3.45 ERA in 15⅔ innings, which would have been more if not for a costly error in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Yankees that led to his early exit.
"He can handle the big moment," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. "He pitched some huge games for us, and Tanner really emerged as a number one in this league. I just love the tenacity and competitiveness. He doesn't seem to get shaken and he's able to calm himself down on the mound."
That wasn't always the case — at least internally. In the past, Bibee has conceded he had a tendency to panic a bit once an opposing lineup started to threaten with a rally. It took experiences like that day in May to reverse that line of thinking. In reality, Bibee was pitching like a frontline starter without a frontline starter's confidence.
"Yeah, I think it comes with more and more experience, and some people learn faster than others and some obviously never get there," Vogt said. "With Tanner, just the growth he went through last year, through the adversity, anchoring this staff the way he did … every time he took the ball, we felt really good about our chances winning."
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Bibee noted it was the most important factor in his progression last year. It was influenced, positively, by veteran catcher Austin Hedges .
"It's not getting emotional on the mound when something doesn't go your way," Hedges said. "If there's a runner on second and nobody out, it doesn't mean that guy has to score. Even if he does, say it's early in the game, you signed up to go seven innings and if I told you that you're going to go seven innings, two runs, you're going to be excited. That means two runs have to score."
Guardians sign Tanner Bibee to contract extension before Opening Day start
Bibee will take the ball T hursday in Kansas City as the Guardians' Opening Day starter. And that could be a long-term trend, as the front office locked up Bibee with a five-year, $48 million extension that could keep him in Cleveland through the 2030 season (with a club option).
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Twelve months ago, Bibee was in the middle of the Guardians rotation just hoping to make a good impression in his second season. He's now the club's No. 1 starting pitcher with a shiny, new $48 million deal.
"It's a real organizational success story, when you think about it," said general manager Mike Chernoff. "This is a fifth-round pick who has turned himself into an Opening Day starter and an ace of the rotation, and I think he really felt like we had invested in his career throughout the draft and player development process.
"After the news leaked in the morning, you could just feel a buzz of minor league coaches and players and staff. People were genuinely just so happy for him and felt like this is the type of guy that you want to invest in."
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians sign Tanner Bibee to deal before Opening Day 2025
