Guardians 

Bieber gets ‘very good news’ in TJ rehab; Hedges activated from IL

Kevin

SEATTLE — Two pieces of good news came the Guardians’ way as they prepared to open their series at T-Mobile Park on Friday.

In more immediate news, catcher — who had been on the injured list since last Friday, after being hit in the head by a backswing — was activated after clearing MLB’s concussion protocol. As important to the Guardians’ long-term outlook, though, were the tidings from back home, where avoided a long-term setback in his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

Bieber, who was shut down for a week after experiencing soreness following his first rehab start on May 31, talked to Dr. Keith Meister on the phone multiple times, with the doctor telling him his discomfort was normal and not structural. This past week, Bieber visited Meister in Dallas, and all of the tests he went through came back similarly positive.

“He got a good update; it was just a little soreness, a little setback,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “So he should resume his throwing program in the next few days. So very, very good news on Shane.”

The Guardians don’t have a set plan for Bieber at the moment, but when he does resume throwing, he’ll presumably throw at least one bullpen before resuming his rehab assignment.

Hedges was officially activated before Friday’s game — though he wasn’t in the starting lineup — in a move foreshadowed Thursday when the Guardians optioned Dom Nuñez to Triple-A Columbus.

“He’s ready to get back in there,” Vogt said. “He is itching to get back out there and we couldn’t be happier that Austin’s healthy.”

The 32-year-old catcher was placed on the IL a day after suffering his sixth career concussion when he took a Jazz Chisholm Jr. backswing off his helmet in the ninth inning of last Wednesday’s game against the Yankees.

Hedges finished the game but began to feel symptoms Thursday. While Bieber was flying south to Texas, Hedges went to Pittsburgh to see a specialist to set his course of recovery for the next week.

“The strategy that the specialist recommended was kind of just getting back to work, trying to treat days … as normal,” Hedges said. “So, I was very active, which was nice because I was able to train and make sure my body was in a good spot so when I come back I’m ready to go.”

Hedges said his symptoms began to clear up after two or three days.

“Apparently there’s a handful of different types of brain injuries, and mine have been pretty consistent just at least with the symptoms,” he said. “So, it was nothing new for me. Luckily this one wasn’t very bad and didn’t take that long to get over it.”

Hedges has started 18 games behind the plate, backing up Bo Naylor. He’s hitting just .113 with three home runs and three RBIs, but is tied for first in the league in catcher caught stealing above average (4) — with would-be basestealers 7-for-15 against him — and sits third in catcher strike rate (48%).