USA TODAY International Edition
All-Star MVP Bieber wasn’t supposed to be there
CLEVELAND — Just a few days ago, Shane Bieber was looking forward to some time off over the All-Star break.
Instead, a whirlwind week hit its apex Tuesday with the Indians righthander being named MVP of the AllStar Game at his home ballpark.
The 24-year-old became an All-Star on Friday night, being named as a replacement for Rangers lefty Mike Minor.
“To be able to do it in front of the home crowd and my first All-Star Game is definitely not something I expected, especially being added to the game four or five days ago,” Bieber said.
He pitched a perfect fifth inning, striking out Willson Contreras, Ketel Marte and Ronald Acuña Jr. and was credited with a hold in the American League’s 4-3 win at Progressive Field.
The fans went nuts as the inning went on, chanting his name as he got set to pitch to the third batter.
“I kind of stepped off the back of the mound after one of the pitches and wasn’t totally able to look up and see everything, just because there was so much going on, but I heard everything and really soaked it all in,” Bieber said.
Bieber is the third player to win the MVP award in his home ballpark, joining Cleveland’s Sandy Alomar Jr. in 1997 and Boston’s Pedro Martinez at Fenway Park in 1999.
Bieber was stunned by the honor. “I didn’t really know what to think. I kind of lost all feeling in my body,” he said.
AL manager Alex Cora of the Red Sox certainly took note of the young righty, who came highly recommended by Indians skipper Terry Francona. “Talking to Tito, he’s a great person,” Cora said of Bieber. “The fans got into it and it was fun. I’m glad that he got the MVP. He plays at this level. He’s really good.”
Drafted by the Indians in the fourth round of the 2016 draft out of UC-Santa Barbara, Bieber was in the majors less than two years later.
After having a tough time finding consistency as a rookie, Bieber is thriving in his second big-league season. He’s 8-3 with a 3.45 ERA, including 141 strikeouts in 1121⁄3 innings.