Bailey Ober took another step forward on his journey back to the Twins' starting rotation, pitching 3 1/3 innings for High-A Cedar Rapids. While it wasn't a headline-grabbing performance, it was a crucial moment in his recovery from right elbow inflammation, which has kept him sidelined since May 31.
Opting for a shorter trip, Ober chose to pitch against Wisconsin rather than suiting up for the Twins’ Triple-A St. Paul affiliate. This outing marked his first encounter with live hitters since the injury, and it was all about shaking off the rust and testing his arm in a competitive setting.
On the mound, Ober was tagged for three earned runs on seven hits. He struck out one batter and notably didn’t issue any walks, a positive sign for his control.
The start wasn't without its challenges; he allowed a home run to kick off the game, and his pitches were consistently aimed low in the strike zone. A couple of the hits he gave up were more about luck than anything else-a grounder to third and a blooper that found open grass in shallow center.
Though full pitch data wasn't available, the broadcast radar gun clocked his four-seam fastball and sinker in the 88-89 mph range. This is consistent with his performance earlier in the season, where he averaged 88.7 mph on his four-seamer in his last start before hitting the injured list.
For Ober, this outing was less about the stat line and more about building confidence and getting back into the rhythm of game action. As he continues his rehab, Twins fans will be eager to see him return to the big league mound, ready to contribute to the rotation once again.
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