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Shane Bieber savors Cleveland homecoming, his first visit since Guardians traded him to Toronto

Shane Bieber returned to Progressive Field on Tuesday for the first time since the Guardians traded him to the Jays last season. The 31-year-old, a former All-Star Game MVP, walked into the visitor's dugout for the matchup.
The Guardians traded Bieber to the Jays for pitching prospect Khal Stephen last season. During his tenure in Cleveland, Bieber went 62-32 in 134 starts, establishing himself as a franchise cornerstone.
Walking into the visitor's dugout felt "odd" to Bieber, who spent nearly an hour reconnecting with former teammates behind the batting cage. He recalled the All-Star Game in 2019 as especially meaningful, saying it was "very special" and he holds it "near and dear to my heart."
After shutting down Tampa on Aug. 20, Bieber was placed on the injured list with elbow inflammation. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024 and was unable to pitch on the mound where he won All-Star Game MVP honors.
Despite his injury, Bieber expressed gratitude for the return. "It's a great place to come back to," he said Tuesday, adding, "It's something that I've been looking forward to for a very long time.

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