Control Artist Shane Bieber Strives For Consistency

To say that righthander Shane Bieber is a control pitcher doesn’t do justice to the drama of the numbers.

In 36 career starts covering four minor league levels in two seasons, the 22-year-old Bieber has averaged one walk every three starts.

Last year, Bieber climbed to Double-A Akron while leading all full-season minor leaguers with a walk rate of 0.5 per nine innings. That’s 10 free passes in 173.1 innings.

That Bieber is a strike-throwing machine was evident to the Indians immediately after they drafted him out of UC Santa Barbara in the fourth round in 2016.

“Shane, while young, is an experienced pitcher,” director of player development James Harris said. Bieber has made a smooth transition to pro ball. Along the way, he has added more velocity to his fastball, which has climbed into the low to mid-90s.

His 2017 season seemed like a breakout, given that he flourished at three different levels while recording a 2.86 ERA and 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

“We wouldn’t call last year a break out,” Harris said. “Shane just worked to make himself more consistent.”

Bieber’s makeup has been as impressive to the Indians as has his command of the strike zone.

“We attribute his success to his strong work ethic and a demonstrated growth mindset, with the ability to receive feedback and use coaches as resources,” Harris said.

Bieber’s emergence as a prospect probably started in 2016, when, after being signed by the Indians, he reported to short-season Mahoning Valley. Coming off a long college season, Bieber was limited to 24 innings over nine appearances.

In those 24 innings, Bieber had a 0.38 ERA and held opponents to a .122 average with 21 strikeouts and two walks.

That Bieber continued to pound the strike zone again in 2017 did not come as a shock to the Indians.

“That didn’t surprise us, because we see how he works and competes, day in and day out,” Harris said. “His control is a combination of the work he puts in, his competitive nature and his stuff.”