Bieber, Fry, Stephan all take key next steps in rehab from elbow surgeries

CLEVELAND -- Shane Bieber, David Fry and Trevor Stephan each are recovering from elbow surgery, and each are trending toward taking a key step in their rehab process next month.

Bieber and Stephan are slated to throw in live batting practice sessions on Friday at the Guardians’ complex in Arizona, pitching coach Carl Willis said. Meanwhile, the Guardians anticipate Fry will begin a game progression in early May in his rehab process.

Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery last April after making two starts. Stephan underwent right UCL reconstruction in March 2024 and missed the entire season. Fry underwent right UCL revision surgery in November.

For Bieber and Stephan, the live BP sessions will mark the first time they will face hitters since they underwent surgery.

“They’re doing great,” Willis said. “... It’ll be their first time facing hitters, obviously, in a long time. But we feel, they feel like they’re ready for that step, and we’re excited about it.”

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt noted on Sunday that Bieber, Stephan and Fry are projected to start game activity in May, beginning at the team’s player development complex in Arizona. Looking further down the line, if all continues to go well, a rehab assignment at an affiliate would be the ensuing step for each guy.

The three are at unique stages in their rehab process and on different timetables. Fry (an All-Star in 2024 who hit a walk-off home run in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Yankees) will be limited to DH duties when he returns, as the recovery process for him to play the field is expected to be a year post-operation. Bieber (the team’s ace who didn’t allow a run and struck out 20 in 12 innings over two starts last year) is building up as a starting pitcher. Stephan (who has a 3.73 ERA in 180 career relief appearances) is building up as a reliever.

“We're looking for 30, 35 pitches, not needing to build him up for any huge amount of volume,” Willis said of Stephan. “That wouldn't be his role. The 30, 35-pitch mark, and then obviously monitoring his recovery and how much time in between that he feels ready to go every other day, every third day, whatever the case may be.”

McKenzie placed on development list

The Guardians placed right-hander Triston McKenzie on the developmental list on Wednesday. The move affords the right-hander an opportunity to work on things outside the confines of a game setting, as he looks to get back on track.

McKenzie was out of Minor League options, and after a tough start to his 2025 season, the Guardians designated him for assignment on April 21. He cleared waivers and chose to accept the outright assignment to Triple-A Columbus on Monday rather than become a free agent.

“It's just a matter of getting back to being himself,” Vogt said. “Talking with him and going through that process, it just seems like getting to Arizona, working on some delivery things, working on getting back to landing spin.

“Doing all that in an environment like that for a little while, it would be better than going right back into Columbus competition, that kind of thing.”

After competing for Cleveland’s fifth-starter job this spring, McKenzie made the Opening Day roster as a long reliever. In limited duty, he allowed seven runs on seven hits and seven walks in 5 2/3 innings over four relief appearances, each of which came at least four days apart.

McKenzie has spent his entire career with Cleveland, which selected him 42nd overall in the 2015 MLB Draft. He recorded a 2.96 ERA in 31 games (30 starts) in ‘22 and a 5.06 ERA in four starts in ‘23, when he missed significant time with a right elbow sprain. Last season, he recorded a 5.11 ERA in 16 appearances before being optioned to Triple-A Columbus on June 30. He finished the season with the Clippers.

“The plan is to get Triston back under his feet as quickly as possible,” Vogt added. “And again, we're thankful that he's going to be with us. Obviously you wish him well wherever he goes. But glad he is going to be with us.

“I think there's a real opportunity for him to come back and help us win games.”