Keep in mind that this article was written four days ago, not August 5th.
Before this season started, I was thinking that Gerrit Cole was going to absolutely run away with the AL Cy Young. However, because of only 2 starts, there’s already someone who’s right on his tail. That man is Shane Bieber. Now, you’re probably like, he’s probably Justin’s brother and he snatched some famous pixie dust from him. However, they aren’t related whatsoever and Bieber had to grind his way to the top. But first, let’s find out what makes him so good?
The 2019 All-Star Game MVP has some filthy pitches in his repertoire. He has a fastball that touches 94-95 mph and a curveball that dips out of the zone and makes great hitters look like little leaguers. Along with that, he throws a slider and a changeup. His composure and confidence on the mound is, arguably, one of the best in baseball. His ability to keep his eye on his target is impeccable, and it leads to him painting the corners of the strike zone like Picasso.
Let’s take a look at his stats now. In his first year with the Indians, he was 11-5 with a 4.55 ERA. He was pretty much an average pitcher that year, but he broke out like crazy in 2019. That year, he was 15-8 with a 3.28 ERA and an eye-opening 259 strikeouts. That total put him in 3rd along with some pretty good company at the 1 and 2 spot, Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander. Additionally, he was an All-Star and was 4th in the Cy Young voting. Since then, he hasn’t missed a beat, even with the long extension of the offseason. He’s 2-0 with 27 strikeouts and has allowed 0 runs (in just 2 starts alone)! Are you kidding me!?
If he keeps this pace going throughout this shortened season, he deserves every single right in the world to take Cole’s spot as the front-runner and even win the thing. Perhaps, if he keeps things going like this for the rest of his career, he has a chance to be an all-time great and even make the Hall of Fame. However, I’m sticking to the present and he’s pretty good in the present if you ask me.
Now, I guess baseball fans will just have to find out what happens with the 6-3, 200-pound beast out of California.
Sources: baseball-reference.com, mlb.com, baseballsavant.mlb.com, youtube.com