Indians as Shane Bieber recently tested positive for COVID-19, said Basic Operations President Chris Antonetti Mandy Bell from MLB.com and other reporters Thursday. Bieber had “Very, very mild symptoms,” according to Antonetti, the Indians are hopeful that the right hand will join them in the camp in the next few days.
There is, of course, no more valuable staff member than Bieber, who won the American League Cy Young Award in 2020 and was arguably the leading pitcher in the sport. The 25-year-old showed an astonishing 1.63-ERA / 2.52 SIERA with a pass rate of 41.1 percent, a step of 7.1 percent and a ground ball mark of 48.4 percent over 77 1/3 overs.
Assuming he recovers soon, Bieber will have to take the ball to Cleveland on the first day. The club’s rotation has this season with the trade in Carlos Carrasco to the Mets, but it still looks like a talented group with Aaron Civale, Zach Plesac and Triston McKenzie among those who continue to complement Bieber.