The Cleveland Guardians sent a clear message to Shane Bieber in his return to Progressive Field with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Cleveland Guardians kicked off a new series with the Toronto Blue Jays in what is a crucial matchup for playoff positioning.
Both teams are fighting for their postseason lives, making the matchup even more important. Cleveland entered the series with Toronto holding a record of 69-68 for the season.
But amid the playoff race, the Guardians also welcomed back a familiar face in this series.
Right-hander Shane Bieber made his first return to Cleveland since the Guardians traded him to the Blue Jays last year. Bieber was the ace of the Guardians franchise for years, making this a special moment all around.
Ahead of the game, the Guardians' social media account sent a message to Bieber, welcoming him back to town.
Shane Bieber Reflects on Cleveland Return
While Bieber won't be pitching in this game due to his being on the injured list, he is embracing the return. The right-hander saw all sorts of success with the Guardians, including winning the Cy Young Award in 2020.
He also made two All-Star teams with Cleveland. Bieber was a fan favorite during his tenure with the team, playing for the Guardians between 2018 and 2024.
During his stint, he was one of the best pitchers in baseball, helping the team make the playoffs in four of his six seasons. Bieber went 62-32 in 134 starts for Cleveland.
The right-hander reflected on the return to Progressive Field, trying to soak in the experience as a visitor now.
“It’s a great place to come back to," Bieber said. "It’s odd thinking that it’s only been a year and it’s odd to thinking that it’s already been a year. But I’m happy to be back. It’s been awesome. A lot of great memories and the support from 2018 to 2025 was very special and that I cherish.
"It’s something that I’ve been looking forward to for a very long time.”
Bieber said that coming out onto the field as a visitor was "odd", but he's been waiting to do this since the trade. The right-hander never wanted to leave Cleveland, but baseball is a business at the end of the day.
The righty was about to enter free agency, so the Guardians decided to move him before he could leave for nothing. There doesn't seem to be any hard feelings between the two sides, with each remembering each other fondly.
The veteran helped the Blue Jays reach the World Series last season, although they fell short in Game 7 to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
