By: Jeremy Lawless

Make no mistake about it, Cleveland embraces the underdog story. We love hearing about players that didn’t receive the hype others players did. Like Clevelanders, they put their head down and put in the work. 

Everyone in Cleveland knows that Baker Mayfield of the Cleveland Browns was a former walk-on. Colin Cowherd keeps reminding us. But there is another walk-on in Cleveland that should be getting more of the focus and attention these days.

Shane “Not Justin” Bieber.

Shane Bieber grew up in Laguna Hills in Southern California where he attended Laguna Hills High School. He was recruited to play baseball as a walk-on by the University of California, Santa Barbara and not really anyone else. He had a fastball in the mid-80’s with strong command. His senior year of high school in 2013, and yes that makes me feel really old, Bieber earned a 8-4 record with a 1.40 ERA for the Hawks.

In 2014, Bieber enrolled in UC Santa Barbara to play baseball for the Gauchos. He started 11 games as a Freshman and finished the season with a 3-4 record and a 3.76 ERA earning him a scholarship. In his Sophomore season Shane made 16 appearances, starting 15, and tallied an 8-4 record with a 2.24 ERA and only allowing 3 HR. Bieber made 18 appearances boasting a 12-4 record and a 2.74 ERA and 109 K’s in his Junior 2015-16 season.

Bieber also played in the Cape Cod Summer League in 2015 for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. He started all 3 games he appeared in and finished with a 1-1 record and a 1.92 ERA and 14 K’s in 18.2 innings.

The Cleveland Indians drafted Shane Bieber in the 4th round of the 2016 MLB Draft with overall pick 122. Which was 30 spots behind Aaron Civale who was picked with overall pick number 92 and 240 spots ahead of Zac Plesac who was also selected by the Indians at 362nd overall. But more on that ridiculous pitcher draft later.

Shane Bieber made his professional debut with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in 2016. All he did was post an ERA of .38 in 24 innings in Niles, where he spent the entire season.

2017 was where the ascension of Shane Bieber began. He spent time with the A level Lake County Captains (5 starts), A+ level Lynchburg Hillcats (14 Starts) and finished the year at AA Akron RubberDucks (9 Starts). He finished 2017 with a 10-5 record in 28 starts with a 3.32 ERA and 162 K’s in 173.1 Innings combined.

Bieber started, albeit not for very long, the 2018 season with Akron where he went 3-0 in 5 starts with a 1.74 ERA while striking out 30 in 31 innings. He then was called up to Columbus where he started 8 games and earned a 1.66 ERA with a 3-1 record. On May 25, 2018, Shane pitched a rain-shortened 7 inning no hitter for the Columbus Clippers. Biebers contract was purchased by the Indians on May 31, 2018.

Shane Bieber made his Major League debut that same day against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field giving up 4 runs and 8 hits in 5.2 innings in an Indians 9-8 victory. Bieber was called up for a spot-start to give Trevor Bauer an extra day of rest coming off a 127 pitch outing the Sunday before against the Astros, who are dirty cheaters. Bieber finished his rookie campaign with an 11-5 record, 4.55 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 20 appearances.

At the beginning of the 2019 season Bieber started the year as the fifth starter in the rotation behind Kluber, Bauer, Carrasco and Clevinger. But with the Injury bug biting Kluber and Clevinger, Bauer struggling and Cookie being diagnosed with leukemia, the stage was set for the young budding star. Let the ascension commence.

In his first 18 games Bieber was named an All-Star with his 7-3 record and 3.54 ERA. On his home field in the 2019 All Star Game, Bieber struck out the side in the fifth inning on 19 pitches and was awarded the All Star Game MVP. 

Shane continued to move up the rotation. So much so that when Trevor Bauer launched a ball 430ft over the center field wall, when Francona was taking him out of the game, the Indians had seen enough. Both of Bauers antics and from Shane Bieber to take his spot in the rotation. The Indians traded Bauer 3 days later.

Bieber continued to ascend despite Topps, the baseball card company, putting “Justin” in the bio portion of the card. Justin Bieber finished the year as Canada’s #1 Pop Music artist. Shanefinished 2019 with a 15-8 record in 33 starts with 259 K’s in 214.1 innings.

Shane Bieber walked-on to the scene in 2020 as the Ace of one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. And he has delivered history so far.

In his first two starts of the COVID-19 shortened season. Shane Bieber is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, has only allowed 7 hits and somehow has only walked 1 batter. Oh and by the way he has tied Karl Spooner for most strikeout through the first two games of a season with 27 passing Curt Schilling (26) and Nolan Ryan (25) in the process. Spooner’s record had stood since 1954.

Shane Bieber has quietly put together one of the most impressive starts to a career in Indians history. He has done it while continually being overlooked. Even going into 2020 it was a toss-up between Mike Clevinger and Bieber for who was going to start on opening day.

Its time for Cleveland fans to not only embrace Shane Bieber, but to acknowledge his journey. You probably didn’t realize it, because he didn’t go on “the Herd” to talk about it. He is the best “walk-on” in Cleveland Sports today and he actually is DANGEROUS to opposing teams.