### Guardians' Ace Shane Bieber Faces Setback in Recovery from Tommy John Surgery Shane Bieber, the Cleveland Guardians' ace pitcher and former American League Cy Young Award winner, is experiencing a significant setback in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. After a promising start to his rehabilitation, Bieber reported soreness in his right elbow during a bullpen session, leading to the cancellation of his scheduled rehab start with Double-A Akron. This development raises concerns for both Bieber and the Guardians, who are already dealing with injuries in their pitching rotation. - Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2024 and was expected to miss a substantial portion of the 2025 season. - He had made a successful rehab start on May 31, 2025, where he pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out five batters and allowing only one hit. - Following the soreness reported on June 6, 2025, he will not throw for at least seven days and will consult with Dr. Keith Meister, the surgeon who performed his operation, to determine the next steps in his recovery process [https://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2025-06-06/guardians-ace-bieber-will-not-throw-for-7-days-after-setback-in-comeback-from-tommy-john-surgery]. ### Breakdown of Bieber's Current Situation 1. **Injury Background** - Bieber had Tommy John surgery in April 2024 after making only two starts in the previous season. - He was initially projected to return around mid-2025, with hopes of rejoining the Guardians' rotation by late June or early July [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/guardians_rhp_shane_bieber_elbow_suffers_rehab_setback/s1_17044_42292810]. 2. **Recent Performance** - On May 31, 2025, Bieber made a successful rehab start, showcasing his potential by striking out five batters in a limited outing [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/guardians_ace_faces_obstacle_in_rehab_process/s1_13237_42292844]. - However, during a bullpen session on June 6, he experienced discomfort, leading to the cancellation of his next scheduled start [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/shane_bieber_scratched_from_rehab_start_with_elbow_soreness/s1_17200_42295063]. 3. **Next Steps** - Bieber will be re-evaluated by Dr. Meister to assess the extent of the soreness and determine a revised rehabilitation plan [https://www.clutchpoints.com/mlb/cleveland-guardians/guardians-news-shane-bieber-gets-update-after-injury-setback]. - The Guardians are facing additional challenges as they recently lost another pitcher, Ben Lively, to Tommy John surgery, compounding their pitching woes [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/guardians_ace_faces_obstacle_in_rehab_process/s1_13237_42292844]. ### Summary of Findings **Bieber's recovery from Tommy John surgery has hit a significant roadblock, impacting both his personal career and the Guardians' pitching rotation.** 1. **Injury History**: Bieber underwent surgery in April 2024 and was expected to return mid-2025. 2. **Recent Setback**: He reported elbow soreness during a bullpen session, leading to the cancellation of his rehab start. 3. **Future Outlook**: A consultation with his surgeon is scheduled to determine the next steps in his rehabilitation process. The Guardians and their fans will be closely monitoring Bieber's situation as they hope for a swift recovery and return to form for their ace pitcher [https://www.apnews.com/article/guardians-bieber-e80d9409e4e4eb36ef57700946db4fe6].