GOODYEAR, Ariz. — (AP) AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber has reported to spring training camp in Arizona with the Cleveland Indians after recovering from COVID-19.
The Cleveland ace recently tested positive with the virus. Bieber experienced only mild symptoms, but had to be isolated per MLB protocols before being medically cleared to join his teammates.
The right-hander took part in drills Saturday. The Indians will hold their first full-squad workout in Goodyear on Sunday. The 25-year-old Bieber was baseball's best pitcher during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
The 25-year-old Bieber led the majors in wins (8), ERA (1.63) and strikeouts (122), a rare Triple Crown for pitchers. Following the season, he was unanimously chosen as the sixth Cy Young winner in Indians history.
Bieber will anchor a pitching staff that has been one of the American League's best over much of the last decade, but is dealing with the loss of former stalwarts Mike Clevinger and Carlos Carrasco in the previous 12 months alone. After an offseason of attrition, team president Chris Antonetti cited Bieber and MVP runner-up Jose Ramirez as the main reasons the Tribe will stay in contention this year.
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