The Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher is moving forward from his current injury
The Toronto Blue Jays began the season with a slew of injuries to the pitching staff, including the starting rotation.
One of the pitchers who was hit with the early injury bug was right-hander Shane Bieber.
Bieber has been shut down this spring due to right forearm fatigue and inflammation. He's expected to begin the season on the injured list and return from the mid-spring to the early-summer.
According to comments from Blue Jays manager John Schneider, shared via "X" by Sportsnet reporter David Singh, Bieber is making "good progress."
Bieber began last season with the Cleveland Guardians but missed most of the year after with elbow surgery. He was acquired by Toronto in a trade July 31, 2025, that sent right-handed pitcher Khal Stephen to Cleveland.
Bieber was activated off the injured list Aug. 22 and made seven regular season starts with the Blue Jays. He posted a 3.57 ERA in those outings and struck out 37 batters in 40.1 innings pitched.
In the playoffs, Bieber had a 3.86 ERA and fanned 18 hitters in 18.2 innings pitched across five appearances (four starts).
This is the second spring in a row where Bieber hasn't been able to participate in games due to respective injuries.
The 30-year-old right-hander was expected to be a focal part of the Blue Jays' rotation before injuries delayed his ramp-up.
Bieber hasn't made more than 20 starts in a regular season since 2023. The last time he made at least 30 starts was 2022.
With Bieber expected to begin the season on the IL, Toronto's starting rotation is projected to be, in order: Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Jose Berrios, Cody Ponce, Max Scherzer and Trey Yesavage according to FanGraphs.
Bieber is expected to earn $16 million this upcoming season before hitting free agency.
If the Blue Jays do begin the season with a six-man rotation, as FanGraphs projects, then there's a question over how Bieber could slot back in when he's healthy.
Toronto attempted to move Berrios from the rotation to the bullpen last season but he ended the year on the injured list and was unable to fulfill that role.
When Bieber is healthy, the team could possibly opt for Berrios to return to the flex reliever/starter role he was originally expected to be in to close out '25.
In the interim, the Blue Jays will ride out the aforementioned six-man rotation in efforts of winning a second-straight American League pennant.
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