MAY 31: The move is official. Righty Ben Taylor was optioned to open an active roster spot, while fellow righty Nick Goody was moved from the 10-day to the 60-day DL for a 40-man opening.
MAY 28: The Indians are set to promote top pitching prospect Shane Bieber for his first MLB action, skipper Terry Francona announced (via Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal, on Twitter). Bieber is slated to receive a start on Thursday, which is also his 23rd birthday.For the time being, it’s expected only to be a spot start.
Since he was taken in the fourth-round of the 2016 draft out of UCSB, Bieber has zipped up the ladder in the Cleveland farm system.In 2017, his first full season as a pro, Bieber threw 173 1/3 innings of 2.86 ERA ball with a shiny 162:10 K/BB ratio.
The results have been even better thus far in 2018. In ten starts — five apiece between Double-A and Triple-A — he has allowed just eight earned runs on 43 hits over 65 1/3 innings, while racking up a ridiculous mix of 61 strikeouts against just three free passes.
Prospect evaluators have increasingly taken notice of Bieber’s sustained output. MLB.com just bumped him onto its top-100 list, crediting him with four useful pitches that he (obviously) commands with aplomb. Clearly, there’s some question whether Bieber’s pure stuff is all that compelling, but it seems his off-the-charts ability to spot the ball will likely make him a useful major-league hurler.
The Indians obviously believe that Bieber is ready now to begin contributing at the game’s highest level. Though he’s only scheduled to get the ball once before being demoted, the move will put Bieber on the 40-man roster. He could well be the top available arm if a future need arises, whether that’s in the rotation or a bullpen unit that has struggled mightily thus far.
sufferforsnakes
Yay, it’s Biebermania time!
lowtalker1
Only in Cleveland
Guess the after the brow loses they need the Indians to win
sufferforsnakes
Tribe has had a winning record every season since Francona arrived.
Know the facts before you spout.
ctownrocks
Only in Cleveland? What do you know about Cleveland? It’s true, get it right before you hate on something you know nothing about.
adachi
This guy clearly hasn’t been paying attention to Cavaliers.
stansfield123
BJ Upton will be the first to tell you this: it’s tough living up to your older brother Justin.
Cotton Walsh
BJ is older smh
newtzb0ss
Keep him in lmao
IndiansFan15
Move plutko to tye bullpen and keep Bieber in and everything will be fixed. At least thats the dream for me and most Indians fans I’ve talked to
Polish Hammer
Really, every Tribe fan I know of has rosters moves they can’t wait to see and none include Bieber or Plutko, mostly dumping Tomlin and the bullpen arms like McAllister and the rest of the flunkees down there.
sufferforsnakes
I’ve been waiting on Bieber for 2 years now.
darkstar61
Bumping the bums you mention is half the equation to get guys like these up
Polish Hammer
Bumping relievers makes room for starters? Okay….
darkstar61
Do you know anything about the Indians?
Tomlin was a starter until about a week ago
Polish Hammer
Can you comprehend English? I clearly stated “dumping Tomlin and the bullpen arms”….obviously that differentiates him as a starter from the relievers.
Travis’ Wood
So bumping Tomlin would make room for another starter…. my goodness you’re dumb
RedRooster
Cue the Justin Bieber references…
datrain021
Who is Justice Beaver?
wjf010
Here you go, red rooster….Cleveland called up Bieber Justin time.
Cat Mando
First fan of his that calls himself/herself a “Belieber” deserves an atomic wedgie.
Triteon
When do they call up Taylor Swift? C’mon…gotta be one somewhere in the MiLB.
tim815
That research project would take less time than your post.
bravesandcrewfan
I’d say that’s a pretty good birthday, even if it goes poorly.
YakAttack
Sweet! Now I can get my niece Bieber tickets and not wanna off myself.
andrewf
You should try to transition her to metal music through baby metal. It should be an easy transition (not a fan of the group).
ottomatic
LOL
Polish Hammer
As for Bieber, the kid has been incredible in his quick rise through the organization, hoping he continues that success with a nice outing on Thursday.
bluejays92
I had never heard of this guy until now; those stats he’s accumulated through the minors are RIDICULOUS. Here’s hoping he crushes it in the bigs.
IndiansFan15
As an Indians fan I’ve been waiting for him
Mattimeo09
Gross
Michael Chaney
I’ve been beating the Shane Bieber drum all year, and he’s definitely earned this opportunity. Good for him.
As for the 40-man move, my guess is that Shawn Morimando gets DFAed. He’d be a welcome subtraction, and he’s probably the most obvious candidate. Hopefully Tomlin is gone sometime soon too though.
layventsky
Unless I missed something, there’s one open spot on the 40-man roster. When they DFA’d Drake, they didn’t counter with another 40-man move.
Michael Chaney
Oh yeah, you’re right
bobtillman
I was just in Beiber…….of course I was a broad for awhile……
GaryWarriorsRedSoxx
Welcome back to manhood.
Joeypower
Selena gomez is getting call up aswell!!
bobtillman
Of course I was a broad a few months ago…..
southi
The kid also just pitched a rain shortened no hitter in his last start against Gwinnett. All jokes aside he is pitching very well right now.
jd396
Whose coffee is that?
GarryHarris
I’ve been watching Shane Bieber one for awhile. If I’m wrong,… Then I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve never been higher on any SP prospect in my 40+ years watching Baseball.
vtadave
40 years? lol
GarryHarris
If I had to guess, I became a fan during the 1970 season. I remember seeing Denny McLain and Les Cain pitch for the Tigers, I remember when Billy Martin became the Tigers Manager and when Vida Blue beat out Mickey Lolich for the Cy Young award. (it seemed that all the little league pitchers imitated Blue’s high knee delivery). I think I became a super-serious fan in 1974 and continually more studious thereafter. It doesn’t mean I know more than anyone else about Baseball. Just that its been my passion for over 40 years.
andrewf
Ah, a younger version of Miles Mikolas?
Arthur Ritchie
What is the Super 2 date this year? I hope that promoting Shane now is not just a kneejerk reaction to the Tribe’s recent bullpen meltdowns that will cost the team a year of team control down the road. Looks like this kid could be special.
mattynokes
It wouldn’t cost them a year of control, just possibly a 4th year of arbitration. He’s only supposed to be up for a spot, but even if he’s up for the long haul, he’d still be under team control for another 6 years.
sufferforsnakes
Who cares what happens down the road? Let’s win NOW!
Travis’ Wood
Super 2 hasn’t literally nothing to do with team control
mattynokes
Glad to see him up. Hopefully this isn’t just an audition for trade bait. I think it’d be quite the short-sighted move to deal such an intriguing starting prospect for a bullpen arm.
darkstar61
They have been playing daily since Monday the 21st and won’t have another day off until Monday the 4th. It’s listed that they just want to give the rotation a bit of a break from that long stretch.
Can’t imagine trading him has entered their thought process.
driftcat28 2
How much should my bid be for this guy on Fantasy waivers
sufferforsnakes
………and the Tribe bullpen blows it for Bieber.
smh.
Solaris601
Welcome to Cleveland. I propose an office pool city wide as to who will be DFAd first – Tomlin or McAllister.
Polish Hammer
Sadly I doubt you’ll see McAllister DFAd, it will take a few more gopher balls and a roster pinch for Tomlin to go.