Story by
Revealed: Another MN Twins Starter Dealing Multiple Injuries
- Story by
- Revealed: Another MN Twins Starter Dealing Multiple Injuries
Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Twins got back on the winning track Wednesday night, with a 6-2 victory at home against the Texas Rangers , bringing their regular season record to 36-31. It was a night that, after losing three of their last four games coming in, the Twins desperately needed to put another notch in the win column.
And they succeeded, in part thanks to a gritty pitching performance by 25-year-old starter David Festa , who went 6 innings, where he allowed only 3 hits and 2 runs to go along with 4 strikeouts. He got a little help from his friend out in center field, Byron Buxton , who batted in three runs and saved two more with this
David Festa on Byron Buxton:
"Look what Buck did in the third inning. Saving two runs for me and then hitting a three-run home run. That was one of the better innings I've ever seen. He showed today why he's one of the best in the game." pic.twitter.com/uDSqb1Varc— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) June 12, 2025
Festa answered the call from Rocco Baldelli, who publicly called for more from his starters after Lopez went down with a grade 2 major teres strain that will keep him on the injured list for at least two months. Two days later, Zebby Matthews followed Pablo to the IL with a shoulder injury of his own .
Advertisement
On Thursday afternoon, the Minnesota Twins need another young(ish) starter to step up, in Bailey Ober , who has already proven himself in a way that guys like Festa have not. Throughout Ober's five-year big league career , 29-the 29-year-old has repeatedly delivered when needed most.
Bailey Ober has not been the same pitcher and now we know why…
This season however, while many of his surface numbers are comparable with his first four years as a Twin (3.78 ERA, 110 ERA+), something has been up with the now-veteran righty, and those paying attention have noticed..
Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Bailey Ober's fastball has dropped in velocity by over a full MPH — from 91.7 MPH in 2024 to 90.4 MPH in 2025 — which has resulted in his strikeout numbers tumbling too, from his 9.0 K/9 career average all the way down to 7.0. So… what is going on with the College of Charleston alum ?
Advertisement
In the article posted this morning at The Athletic , with his next start looming Thursday, Ober finally admitted that he has been dealing with two different injuries (hip + knee) this season, discomfort that he has been treating since spring training.
Though he doesn't think it'll result in a trip to the injured list, Bailey Ober acknowledged knee and hip discomfort is playing a part in mechanical issues that have resulted in reduced fastball velocity.
Ober first experienced the discomfort in spring training after a pickoff attempt and has received daily treatment to manage it, which he said is atypical. Ober's average fastball has peaked at 91 mph and is sitting at 90.4 mph for the season.
Bailey Ober has been a staple of the Twins rotation since 2023, after he forced his way into the organization's equation by posting a 3.82 ERA, 3.94 FIP and 108 ERA+ in his first 148 innings pitched, as a part-time call-up between the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Minnesota Twins starter backtracks on reason behind velocity drop
Between 2023 and 2024, Ober got even better, posted a 3.73 ERA in 323 innings pitched, improving his WHIP to 1.031 and his ERA+ to 114. What's interesting about Bailey's admission Tuesday night is that, just days ago, he told Hayes' colleague at The Athletic, Aaron Gleeman that his drop in velocity was due to mechanical issues, not health.
Set to start Thursday, Ober thinks he's cleaned up the issues that led to his fastball averaging under 90 mph in two consecutive starts, his lowest of the season. Ober worked on mechanics during a bullpen session Tuesday and thinks he's in a good place, though he'd like to feel better physically.
"I would like to be better, but it is what it is," Ober said. "It's nothing I haven't pitched through. … Felt good going into the season. I feel like my velo was OK. It was still a little down, up until two weeks ago in Seattle, but not as much as it is right now. But, yeah, it feels majority mechanical and battling the ups and downs of feeling good and not good during the season."
As far as we know, Bailey Ober plans to power through his knee and hip injuries, but this early admission is worth paying attention to. The Minnesota Twins are set to take Target Field here within the hour. If Ober struggles, does a trip to the injured list follow?
Advertisement
Related: MN Twins Trade Struggling Reliever for Exciting Young Infield Prospect
Or, would Rocco Baldelli and Bailey's people decide that a day of rest during his next time through the rotation might be worth a try? Let's hope he pitches lights out and we don't have to worry about it.
Related Headlines
