Is Shane Bieber related to Justin Bieber? Explaining Blue Jays pitcher's connection with Canadian pop star

David Suggs

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Is Shane Bieber related to Justin Bieber? Explaining Blue Jays pitcher's connection with Canadian pop star image

Those with keen eyesight are greeted with a familiar face -- and name -- when they glance at the Toronto Blue Jays' mound every fifth day.

Shane Bieber is quietly one of the more accomplished hurlers in MLB. A one-time Cy Young Award winner who has drew votes in another two seasons, Bieber is something of a household name among baseball enthusiasts. At his best, he's a blur atop the bump, known for dispatching batters with a fiery fastball and curveball that drops like a stone out of the strike zone.

Bieber is capable of producing gems with the ball in his grasp. And yet, for a segment of the population, his last name -- and who he shares it with -- is the most compelling aspect of his player profile.

Is Bieber related to pop maven Justin Bieber? Here's what you need to know.

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Is Shane Bieber related to Justin Bieber?

Despite their identical last names, Shane Bieber is not, in fact, related to Justin Bieber.

That's not to say that either Bieber isn't aware of the other's existence. In fact, Shane evoked his nominal doppelganger during Players' Weekend while he was playing in Cleveland back in 2019.

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The then-Guardians ace paid homage to the other Bieber, sporting the title "Not Justin" on his nameplate. Justin Bieber soon responded to the shoutout with one of his own, donning a "Not Shane Bieber" kit while galavanting around on his motorcycle.

So, the Biebers share no relation to one another. However, they do seem to have a passion for their famous surname -- and each other. 

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Where is Shane Bieber from?

Whereas Justin Bieber hails from Stratford, Ontario, Canada, Shane Bieber's hometown is Laguna Hills, California. He starred at Laguna Hills High School before settling at UC Santa Barbara, where he posted a 2.74 ERA in 18 starts as a junior. Cleveland selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 Draft.

David Suggs

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.