It's the kind of news no one in Cleveland wanted to hear.

Ace right-hander Shane Bieber, returning from Tommy John surgery, seemed to be on the path back to the major leagues. But that path has hit a snag.

Bieber, 30, was supposed to make his second rehab start on Friday for the Double-A Akron Rubberducks.

But Bieber is unavailable.

Here's how The Athletic's Zack Meisel reported it:

"Shane Bieber will not start Friday for Akron. He reported soreness after throwing a bullpen session the other day. He met with team doctors and will consult with Dr. Keith Meister to figure out what’s next."

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That sounds a bit foreboding. 

Bieber had previously made a rehab start in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. In that, he went 2.1 scoreless innings while striking out five.

The 2020 AL Cy Young winner underwent Tommy John on April 12, 2024, which kept him out until this point.

Bieber was actually a free agent after the 2024 season, but he re-signed with the Guardians on a one-year, $10 million deal that also includes a $16 million player option for 2026.

Bieber dealt with a shoulder strain in 2021 and elbow issues in 2023 before the serious injury in 2024.

Last season, Bieber threw 12 scoreless innings before never getting to make his third start of the year due to TJ..

Cleveland was hoping to get Bieber back as soon as possible, but now it's not clear when he might be able to return. What a bummer piece of news for Guardians fans everywhere.