Shane Bieber's performance in his rehabilitation game was impressive, marking a positive step towards joining the Blue Jays.

Today, Shane Bieber took another step towards his debut with the Blue Jays. This was his first rehabilitation game since being traded from the Guardians at the trade deadline.

The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner pitched five innings, giving up two runs and recording six strikeouts in a 4-3 loss for the Triple-A Buffalo team against Syracuse. Of the 62 pitches Bieber threw, 47 were strikes, and he retired seven of the last eight batters he faced.

“He looked really good,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said after the team's 7-4 loss to the Royals. “Hearing his comments after the game was even more encouraging. So, we’re taking it one game at a time, but based on his pitch movement, pitch count, and velocity—it's really, really encouraging.”

The next plan is to keep Bieber on a regular rest schedule and monitor how the right-hander feels over the coming days.

During his lengthy recovery from Tommy John surgery, the 30-year-old Bieber began his latest rehabilitation game in the Guardians' rookie league on July 16. In his last four starts spanning four levels between the Guardians and Blue Jays, he pitched 14 innings with an ERA of 2.57.

“What I’m most pleased about is that I’m no longer thinking about my health issues,” Bieber said at his introductory press conference after being traded to Toronto. “I think that speaks volumes about the progress I’ve made post-surgery and how I’m feeling physically and mentally. I’m focused on getting back to competing in the majors. That’s a fun place to be. That’s what I miss, and that’s what I’m striving for. I’m very close now, but it’s easier said than done.”

The last time Bieber pitched in a major league game was on April 3, 2024, when he threw six scoreless innings for the Cleveland team. Although he started the 2024 season with two scoreless outings over 12 innings, the right-hander subsequently underwent season-ending ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery.