The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Antonetti: Bieber has ‘mild’ case of COVID-19
Team expecting him back at complex in ‘the next few days’
Almost a year after it started changing life in the United States, the novel coronavirus continues to impact the Indians.
Indians ace Shane Bieber tested positive for COVID-19 prior to pitchers and catchers reporting for spring training Feb. 17, team president Chris Antonetti revealed in a Zoom call Feb. 18. But he should be back with the Tribe in Goodyear, Ariz., soon, Antonetti said.
“During the course of regular testing through the offseason, Shane Bieber did test positive for COVID,” Antonetti said. “He’s in the process of working through the return protocols. He had very, very mild symptoms. In fact, they were barely noticeable.
“We expect him to get back to the complex at some point within the next few days. He’s continuing his preparation for spring training and we’re trying to support him remotely as best we can.”
Bieber, the 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner, is the unquestioned leader of the pitching staff this season. At the start of spring training a year ago, he shared that role with Mike Clevinger. But Clevinger was traded to the San Diego Padres last summer. Yet even before the trade, Bieber had seamlessly taken over the role that once belonged to Corey Kluber.
“You can pick his brain about this and that. It’s unfortunate, but Biebs is gonna be back. He’s gonna be even better than he was last year, hopefully.” — Cal Quantrill, on Shane Bieber
Part of Bieber’s success comes from the work he puts in in the offseason. In part because of that, pitching coach Carl Willis is hopeful the positive COVID test won’t be a major setback.
“You’re always concerned when you hear anybody you know has COVID,” Willis said on Zoom from Goodyear after the first day of workouts for pitchers and catchers. “Fortunately, it doesn’t seem he has major symptoms. He’s been able to continue to move. Obviously, we haven’t been able to instruct him to do anything. But in talking with him on a daily basis, we don’t feel it’s going to be a setback.
“Shane is diligent with his work. He was ready, along with everyone else, to come in and hit the ground running. We’ll be careful when he’s reintroduced to the group. He still has to take the physical and go through the intake process. So we’ll have a good idea of where he is physically and start the progression. We don’t think it’s going to be a huge setback, but, as with anyone, we just want Shane Bieber to be healthy.”
Bieber led the majors with eight victories (81) in 2020 when the pandemic shortened the season to 60 games. His 1.63 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings also topped both leagues. He was the first unanimous choice for the Cy Young Award since Justin Verlander in 2011.
Zach Plesac and Aaron Civale follow Bieber in the rotation. The two spots after that are not solidified. Triston McKenzie, Cal Quantrill and Logan Allen will spend March jockeying for the roles of fourth and fifth starter.
“(Bieber) wants to make the people around him better,” Quantrill said on Zoom. “You can pick his brain about this and that. It’s (Bieber testing positive for COVID) unfortunate, but Biebs is gonna be back. He’s gonna be even better than he was last year, hopefully.
“We talked a lot about the curveball this offseason. When you talk to somebody who cares the way he cares about baseball, the way he cares about his craft and getting better, there’s something you can learn there. We’re gonna lean on Biebs because he’s the best pitcher in baseball right now, but hopefully we can ease the burden on him a little bit.”
In other news, the Indians re-signed left-handed reliever Oliver Perez to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. The 2021 season would be his 19th in the majors if he sticks with the Indians out of spring training.
“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem he has major symptoms. He’s been able to continue to move. Obviously, we haven’t been able to instruct him to do anything. But in talking with him on a daily basis, we don’t feel it’s going to be a setback.” — Indians pitching coach Carl Willis, on Shane Bieber