Twins Pitcher Bailey Ober Nears Return, Could Start This Weekend
Minnesota Twins right-hander Bailey Ober is closing in on a return to the major league rotation after a successful bullpen session Tuesday, a development that could impact the team's push in the AL Central race.
Ober, 30, has been sidelined since late May with right elbow inflammation. He threw a bullpen session before Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians and could be ready to start a big league game as early as this weekend, according to manager Derek Shelton.
“I talked to him yesterday, saw him yesterday and everything was good coming out of that outing,” Shelton said Tuesday. “He threw a bullpen today. I think after the bullpen, we’ll make the assessment on what the next step is, but everything is trending towards him being close to rejoining us.”
Ober's Season Stats and Recent Form
Ober is 6-3 with a 4.59 ERA in 12 starts for the Twins this season. He struggled in his final start before the injury but had been dominant earlier in the year. From April 8 through May 12, he posted a 2.86 ERA over seven starts, averaging more than six innings per outing.
He made two minor league rehab starts, most recently Saturday for Triple-A St. Paul, where he struck out five in five innings while allowing four runs. The bullpen session Tuesday suggests he is ready to rejoin the big league club.
Jeffers and Sands Progressing in Iowa
Two other key Twins players are working their way back with the St. Paul Saints, who are on a road trip in Iowa this week. Catcher Ryan Jeffers, recovering from a fractured left hamate bone, and reliever Cole Sands, returning from a right forearm strain, are both scheduled to appear for St. Paul.
Sands is slated to throw one inning Tuesday and will likely need multiple appearances before being activated. Jeffers is building up his tolerance to both hitting and catching. Manager Shelton said Jeffers will likely stay with St. Paul for at least three or four more days.
“He’s caught five innings. I think tonight he’s catching seven [innings] and then he’ll catch seven again in two days,” Shelton said. “We just have to build him back up. Part of the buildup is making sure his legs are in shape, along with the percussion of his hand, and we can’t replicate that without game reps. But everything so far has been encouraging.”
Jeffers likely will not return before this weekend's series against the Los Angeles Angels, and it would not be surprising if he sits out until after the All-Star break.
Twins Prospect Updates
Infielder Kaelen Culpepper, the Twins' No. 2 prospect and No. 32 overall in MLB, is heading back to the injured list due to a glute issue. He previously missed time with the same injury and then was sidelined after being hit by a pitch. General manager Jeremy Zoll said the glute injury remains problematic.
“Unfortunately, not in a spot where he’s going to be ready to go,” Zoll said. “So he’ll be back on the IL as of today and we’ll go from there. Still hopeful that it’s certainly more on the minor side than not, but we’ll get a better sense in the days to come of an exact timeline.”
Outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez, the Twins' No. 4 prospect and No. 57 overall, has not played since May 1 due to a left thumb injury. He is now throwing from 105 feet and hitting off a tee, with a target return of mid-August.
Twins Add Woo-Suk Go to Bullpen
The Twins activated right-handed reliever Woo-Suk Go on Tuesday and optioned righty Cody Laweryson to St. Paul. Go was acquired from the Detroit Tigers on Sunday and had to be added to the roster due to an assignment clause. He has three years of minor league options remaining.
Go was a standout closer for the LG Twins in the Korean Baseball Organization, posting three separate seasons with at least 30 saves. This year, he had a 1.96 ERA in 27 appearances across two minor league levels in the Detroit system.