507 days later, Blue Jays' Shane Bieber pitches a 9K gem
Photo credit: https://twitter.com/BlueJays
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Shane Bieber strikes out nine in impressive Blue Jays debut
In his Toronto Blue Jays debut, and his first start in over a year, Shane Bieber couldn't have made a better first impression.
The 2020 American League Cy Young winner worked six strong innings in his Blue Jays debut against the Marlins on Friday night at loanDepot Park, giving up just one run on two hits.
Blue Jays pitchers with 9+ strikeouts and 0 walks in their debut: Shane Bieber. That's it.
Bieber struck out nine without issuing a walk across 87 pitches in Toronto's 5-2 win in the series opener.
The Blue Jays helped out their starter with some run support, batting in three before Bieber first took to the mound.
The 30-year-old right-hander struck out the first batter, Xavier Edwards, on an 82.6 mph knuckle curve after setting him up with two fastballs and a changeup.
Bieber followed by fanning Jakob Marsee on an 89.3 mph changeup before his first mistake, a fastball that plunked Agustin Ramirez on the left forearm.
On the next pitch, Bieber retired Liam Hicks on a flyout to center.
Bieber seemed on his way to another 1-2-3 inning in the second before 5-foot-7, 150-pound Javier Sanoja crushed a 93.7 mph fastball a Statcast-projected 397 feet to center for a solo home run with two outs.
Down 1-2 in the count, Sanoja battled through a 10-pitch at-bat to win the duel.
Bieber retired the side in order the next three innings, striking out the side in the fourth.
The Blue Jays stretched their lead to 5-1 in the sixth on Varsho's two-run homer to right-center off Gusto.
The Marlins didn't get their second hit off Bieber until the sixth, when Marsee singled. Two pitches later, the inning was over, and so was a successful night for Bieber.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said before the game there were no restrictions on how many innings Bieber would pitch, though he would likely cap him at 100 pitches.
Schneider noted he was «anxious» to see Bieber «compete» again.
«For one, I'm excited for him. It's been a long time for him to get back on the big league mound,» Schneider said. «He's an accomplished guy, so I think just watching him navigate a game is what we're looking at.»
Bieber, who previously spent his entire career with the Cleveland Guardians organization, was shut down in April 2024 after just two starts when he underwent Tommy John surgery to repair his UCL.
The Blue Jays acquired the California native at the 2025 deadline, sending prospect Khal Stephen to Cleveland in exchange.
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