Minnesota Twins right-hander Bailey Ober made a noticeable adjustment on Monday.
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So the Minnesota Twins are closely monitoring Bailey Ober as he wraps up spring training, especially given how important he will be to their rotation in 2026.
So the Minnesota Twins are closely monitoring Bailey Ober as he wraps up spring training, especially given how important he will be to their rotation in 2026.
So with Pablo Lopez sidelined for the entire season after undergoing surgery, Ober is expected to take on a much larger role, making any signs of improvement late in camp really encouraging for a Twins roster that’s depleted.
So with Pablo Lopez sidelined for the entire season after undergoing surgery, Ober is expected to take on a much larger role, making any signs of improvement late in camp really encouraging for a Twins roster that’s depleted.
Ober himself is coming off a disappointing 2025, where he posted an ERA above 5 at 5.1 with a 6-9 record across 27 starts.
Ober himself is coming off a disappointing 2025, where he posted an ERA above 5 at 5.1 with a 6-9 record across 27 starts.
He struck out just 120 batters in 146.3 innings, which is a notable drop in effectiveness for him compared to his previous two seasons.
He struck out just 120 batters in 146.3 innings, which is a notable drop in effectiveness for him compared to his previous two seasons.
In both 2023 and 24, he’d established himself as a reliable middle-of-the-rotation arm with a sub-4 ERA, making last year’s regression one of the biggest reasons why the Twins struggled and ultimately sold off half the roster at the trade deadline.
In both 2023 and 24, he’d established himself as a reliable middle-of-the-rotation arm with a sub-4 ERA, making last year’s regression one of the biggest reasons why the Twins struggled and ultimately sold off half the roster at the trade deadline.
So that makes his velocity trends this spring particularly concerning, at least until his final outing on Monday.
So that makes his velocity trends this spring particularly concerning, at least until his final outing on Monday.
So Ober’s average fastball velocity this spring had continued to decline since the first start.
So Ober’s average fastball velocity this spring had continued to decline since the first start.
It was 89.9 miles per hour his first start, 88.8 his second, 88.2 his third, but finally his fourth start he made the adjustment and he bumped it back up to 89.6.
It was 89.9 miles per hour his first start, 88.8 his second, 88.2 his third, but finally his fourth start he made the adjustment and he bumped it back up to 89.6.
That fourth start came this Monday, and it was a noticeable uptick after he’d continued to decline the past two starts, and it kind of eases some concern.
That fourth start came this Monday, and it was a noticeable uptick after he’d continued to decline the past two starts, and it kind of eases some concern.
The increase in velocity is just positive for Ober and the Twins.
The increase in velocity is just positive for Ober and the Twins.
Earlier in camp, the downward trend really just raised questions about his effectiveness, and for a pitcher who relies mostly on command and deception, having a slight dip in velocity could really just have a huge impact if he’s not able to up that fastball and make it effective in any way.
Earlier in camp, the downward trend really just raised questions about his effectiveness, and for a pitcher who relies mostly on command and deception, having a slight dip in velocity could really just have a huge impact if he’s not able to up that fastball and make it effective in any way.
Now seeing that number climb back, though, means that Ober made an adjustment, whether mechanical or physical, is just in time for opening day on Thursday.
Now seeing that number climb back, though, means that Ober made an adjustment, whether mechanical or physical, is just in time for opening day on Thursday.
Ober has spent his entire career with the Twins after they selected him in the 2017 MLB draft, and he’s got a few years left until after the 2028 season when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Ober has spent his entire career with the Twins after they selected him in the 2017 MLB draft, and he’s got a few years left until after the 2028 season when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
For now, he remains under team control, but his long-term future really is just dependent on whether the Twins continue to sell off pieces or try to be competitive.
For now, he remains under team control, but his long-term future really is just dependent on whether the Twins continue to sell off pieces or try to be competitive.