Blue Jays' Newest Addition Dazzles in First Rehab Start Since Being Traded
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As the Toronto Blue Jays finish up their series against the Kansas City Royals, a newly acquired player was making his debut for the team in the minors.
At the trade deadline, one of the top moves that the Blue Jays made was to acquire Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians.
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The price to acquire the former American League Cy Young award winner wasn’t cheap. The Blue Jays sent one of their top prospects, Khal Stephen, to the Guardians in exchange for what might just be a couple of months of Bieber.
While the right-hander has the potential to be a game-changer for Toronto, the move does come with some risk. Bieber hasn’t started a game in the Majors since the very beginning of 2024.
Recovering from Tommy John surgery isn’t black and white, with some pitchers struggling to regain their form from before the operation.
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For Bieber, he has been impressive in his rehab starts with the Guardians, and he looked good for the Buffalo Bisons on Sunday.
Bieber's Day in Buffalo.
— Buffalo Bisons (@BuffaloBisons) August 3, 2025
5ip, 5h, 2r/er, 1bb, 6k.
47 of 62 pitches for strikes| @BlueJays @MiLB pic.twitter.com/cxRmNcyo16
In the start, the right-hander went five innings and allowed two earned runs while striking out six. The impressive number of strikes that Bieber was able to throw is a great sign that he is feeling comfortable.
Furthermore, as he continues to work his way back, going five innings and throwing 62 pitches indicates that he could be getting closer to a full workload.
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While the Blue Jays will be careful with the right-hander, they do need him to get to the Majors soon.
If Bieber can pitch like the former Cy Young award winner that he is, Toronto could have a Game 1 starter in the right-hander.
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Nick Ziegler is an alumnus of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. He has been working in sports media covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL for nearly a decade with various publications online. With his free time, Nick enjoys being at the Jersey Shore with his wife, daughter, and their golden retriever. You can follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @NickZiegler20.