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Shane Bieber rehab start: How did Guardians starter pitch for RubberDucks? 'I feel great'
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- Shane Bieber rehab start: How did Guardians starter pitch for RubberDucks? 'I feel great'
It couldn't have gone much better for Shane Bieber on July 29 in Akron.
The Guardians starting pitcher worked four successful innings with the Akron RubberDucks at Canal Park as he continues to rehab from Tommy John surgery.
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Bieber struck out seven, walked none and allowed three hits and one run via a home run by Jake Holton of the Erie SeaWolves. He threw 58 pitches, 37 for strikes.
"I feel great," Bieber said. "I love it. I missed it, but at the same time it has never left. It just has been a process and a journey. It has been challenging, it has been very, very long and strenuous, but I have learned to embrace it and to love it. I am not antsy, but I am motivated, determined and excited to get out there."
Holton took Bieber deep over the fence in center field in front of a crowd of 5,516 on Big Splash Day.
Bieber's fastball topped out at 94 mph.
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"I feel like my stuff is in a really good spot," Bieber said. "To be frank, it has been in a great spot since I started throwing. I am very confident with the action of my pitches. For me, it is really about building arm strength. It is hard to simulate a game atmosphere unless you do it. It is nice to go out there and make that next step to four innings today. I look forward to continuing progress. … The stuff is in a really good spot. I am happy with it."
Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber makes a rehab start for the Akron RubberDucks on July 29, 2025, at Canal Park.
Bieber, 30, is a two-time MLB All-Star (2019, 2021), the American League Cy Young Award winner in 2020 and a Gold Glove recipient in 2022. He has a 62-32 record with Cleveland with a 3.22 ERA and 958 strikeouts in 843 innings.
"The outing in and of itself as a whole was pretty good," Bieber said. "I had a lot of swing and miss and putouts. I got my PFP [pitcher's fielding practice] work in as well. ... I will talk with the strength and medical staff and figure out what that next step is going to look like."
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Bieber pitched with the RubberDucks as a prospect in 2017 and 2018. He made rehab appearances with the Ducks in 2021 and 2023. He spoke July 29 with a mural of former Cleveland pitcher Mike Clevinger behind him and a mural of Triston McKenzie in front him.
Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber makes a rehab start for the Akron RubberDucks on July 29, 2025, at Canal Park.
"I didn't do enough to get my mural on one of these walls," Bieber said with a smile and a laugh. "It's an awesome place to come, both when you are assigned to the Double-A team or if you are rehabbing [an injury]. These guys are fantastic. The staff is fantastic. [RubberDucks Director of Player Facilities] Shad [Gross] and his guys are always so welcoming. The coaching staff, everybody within the Akron organization does a great job making you feel at home, whether you are here for one day or the whole season. Happy to have this affiliate within the organization for sure."
Guardians pitcher Trevor Stephan stats during rehab start in Akron
Guardians reliever Trevor Stephan also worked an inning July 29 as he continues to rehab his injury. Stephan struck out one and finished with nine pitches, eight for strikes. His fastball topped out at 92 mph.
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The RubberDucks defeated the SeaWolves 5-1 with Yorman Gómez pitching four scoreless innings in relief after Bieber and Stephan. Gómez struck out two and allowed four hits with 57 pitches, 36 for strikes.
Gómez is now 10-0 this season between Akron (2-0) and Lake County (8-0), which leads all Guardians minor leaguers. Ducks pitchers Tommy Mace and Trenton Denholm each have nine wins.
Ducks outfielder Joe Lampe hit a solo home run and a double. The other notable hitters for the Ducks were Guy Lipscomb (single, double, run), Travis Bazzana (two singles, two runs), Jorge Burgos (single, two RBIs) and Alex Mooney (double, RBI).
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: How did Guardians starter Shane Bieber do in his rehab start in Akron?
