Star pitcher of the Guardians out for the season

Following his first start in Oakland and subsequent start in Seattle on April 2, Shane Bieber experienced a recurrence of medial right elbow pain. This recurrence of symptoms prompted further medical due diligence, including imaging and evaluation by our team physicians.  Imaging and evaluations confirmed the presence of a re-injury to Shane’s proximal ulnar collateral ligament.  Additional medical opinions from leading sports medicine physicians, Drs. Keith Meister and Neal ElAttrache, confirmed the diagnosis.

Given the recurrence of symptoms following an extended period of rest and rehabilitation during the 2023 season and subsequent off-season, surgical reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament has been recommended. We are in the process of coordinating surgery with Dr. Meister in Dallas.

“Sheer toughness and grit,” Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said in describing how Bieber pitched through the pain and performed.

“He’s devastated by it,” Antonetti said on Saturday. “He feels as though he is letting a lot of people down. And I tried to reassure Shane that couldn’t be further from the truth because he embodies what it means to be a professional, what it means to be a great teammate and a great leader.”