Cleveland’s New Ace: Tanner Bibee

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Tanner Bibee may be the new ace in Cleveland. The Guardians drafted the 24-year-old right-handed pitcher in the fifth round of the 2021 MLB draft out of California State University, Fullerton. Bibee made his minor league debut in 2022, posting a 2.17 ERA in 25 games started, 132.2 innings total, and tallied 167 strikeouts while only walking 27. As he became one of Clevelands' top pitching prospects and MLB's 56th-ranked prospect, the Guardians called up Bibee after three minor league starts in 2023, and he has yet to slow down the dominance he has had in his professional career. 

Photo by Matt Brown/Courtesy Cal State Fullerton

The right-hander debuted with the Guardians on April 26, 2023, against the Colorado Rockies, going five and two-thirds innings, giving up six hits, giving one earned run, and striking out eight. Even with Bibee being called up at the end of April, he still led the pitching staff and ended the 2023 season with the most games started (25), innings pitched (142), ERA (2.98), strikeouts (141), and WHIP (1.18) out of starters on the Guardians. 

Bibee has shown he has the stuff to dominate in the big leagues. The six-foot-two right-hander has a fastball that averages 95 miles per hour and some of the best breaking ball and offspeed offerings in the Major Leagues. According to Baseball Savant, Bibee's breaking ball run value compared to the rest of the Major Leagues is in the 87th percentile and the 90th percentile on his off-speed pitches.

Cleveland's long-time Ace, Shane Beiber, looks like he will not be returning to the organization in 2024, opening the door for Bibee to be the future ace in Cleveland for the foreseeable future.