Homecoming always hits differently, right? Especially in sports, when a player returns to a team, it’s like a full-circle moment, kind of like a movie ending. That’s exactly what’s happening with Shane Bieber and the Cleveland Guardians. You know, when someone says, “No matter how far you go, your heart always knows where it belongs,“ that’s how he must’ve felt when he came back to Cleveland. Similarly, the return of a $10M star to the Cleveland Guardians has been a revelation where the player states how he was very close to leaving Cleveland.
Let’s take a step back. Shane Bieber has been through a rough patch. Back in April 2024, after starting strong, he had to step back due to an injury. That meant season-ending surgery, and just like that, his year was over. But here’s the kicker: despite all that, Shane didn’t give up on the Guardians. Instead, he signed a one-year, $10 million deal for 2025, with a potential $16 million player option for 2026. It’s like coming back from a major setback and saying, “I’m not done yet.“ You’ve gotta respect that kind of drive, don’t you?
“The strongest connections are often the ones that bring you back home, where dreams began.“ Shane Bieber has also mentioned that things weren’t looking good and that they had begun to mentally brace themselves for the worst. Without a long-term contract in place, he knew that free agency was inevitable, and the potential had loomed huge. On the Chris Ross Show, he expressed his feelings. “It was that morning. It was looking bleak, and I’ll just leave it at that.“ He expressed, “And then we were able to come to terms in the morning and throughout the day, and it happened very quickly. And I’m very, very happy to get something done and to be returning.“ Said Shane Bieber.
He suggests that, during free agency, players often begin to prepare emotionally for the possibility of leaving their current team. “OK, well, I don’t mean to pry here, but I am curious. I imagine you had emotionally kind of set sail for wherever else you were about to sign. Is that accurate?” The 29-year-old also highlights the business side of professional sports. “Not entirely, but yeah, I had to kind of get there. Just as an athlete, as a professional athlete, you end up hitting free agency, and maybe you don’t sign that long-term extension that you were looking for, and you ultimately have to prepare yourself to move on. And that’s just the business.”
Bieber expresses his affection for his former team, Cleveland. While he was preparing for the possibility of leaving, Cleveland was still close to his heart. “Like I said, happy to run it back, but no, never got Cleveland completely out of our heads. You’re our heart.” For him, it wasn’t an easy process, but despite the doubts, there was always a part of them that never truly gave up on the idea of staying.”
Although Bieber has been one of baseball’s top pitchers, it is unclear when he will be making a comeback, given the length of his recuperation from Tommy John surgery. Do you want to know when he will return?
When will Shane Bieber return from his elbow injury?
You probably remember how the 29-year-old right-hander started the 2024 season on fire, right? He had two incredible outings before disaster struck. Unfortunately, he tore his ulnar collateral ligament, which led to a season-ending injury and eventually Tommy John surgery. Not the news anyone wants to hear, especially with how good he looked at the start. But here’s the big question: why sign a deal before fully recovering?
Well, turns out Bieber’s still in the rehab process, and he’s on track to return soon. So, the good news is, we’ll likely see him back in action on the grand stage of MLB sooner rather than later. Now, the recovery from Tommy John surgery is no small feat. It typically takes about 12 to 18 months. That means Bieber could be back on the mound sometime in mid to late 2025. He’ll miss the first few months of the season but should be good to go after that.
Now, with Shane Bieber making his way back to Cleveland, how do you think this is all going to play out?
The post Cleveland’s $10M Recruit Confesses Feeling “Bleak” & Lost After Nearly Being Ditched by the Guardians appeared first on EssentiallySports.