FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It wasn’t quite game action yet, but Bailey Ober faced a string of legitimate Major League hitters in a live batting practice session on Sunday, and he liked what he saw.
Ober pitched two simulated innings, getting up over 40 pitches, against a group that consisted of Matt Wallner, Royce Lewis, Ryan Jeffers, Orlando Arcia and Kala’i Rosario. Wallner opened the session with a homer, but overall, Ober’s stuff looked sharp, and his location got better as the outing went on. He induced four swinging strikes in his second inning.
“Felt great,” Ober said. “It always feels good to be out there, especially when you're building up. Two innings, 40, 45 pitches, felt really good. Got swings and misses in both innings that I threw. For the most part, threw strikes. I think one at-bat got away from me. … I feel like my body was moving pretty well on my own, and I was moving fast.”
Ober worked extensively throughout the winter to regain his delivery, which got significantly out of whack during 2025 as he dealt with a left hip injury. He was pleased with his form approaching camp, but then early in spring he had a couple of throwing sessions where he felt he backslid a bit.
So rather than charge headlong into games, Ober took an extra bullpen session and then two live batting practice sessions before beginning Grapefruit League play.
“The last couple of weeks, [I] hadn't been feeling as sharp as I wanted to,” he said. “Some stuff was getting away from what I was working on this offseason. But I'm feeling healthy, and I think this past week I was able to get back to ... how I want to feel on the mound mechanically. So just giving me a little bit extra time to really dial that in, because I spent so much of this offseason just grinding.”
The next step for Ober is a game, expected to be Friday night at home against the Braves. From there, he’ll continue normal buildup, and Twins officials are fully confident he’ll be ready and feeling like himself when the season opens on March 26.
“He's trying to do everything he can to be as efficient in his delivery as possible,” said general manager Jeremy Zoll. “The more efficient you are, the better your stuff plays. It's an opportunity to iron those things out early. He's trying to take advantage of that early, especially with camp starting earlier. We'll let him have that time now instead of down the road.”
Abel deals again
Right-hander Mick Abel continues to be the most impressive pitcher in camp. Abel was simply dominant against a Braves split squad on Sunday, tossing three scoreless innings with one hit, no walks and six strikeouts. He got 10 swinging strikes on 20 total swings, averaged 97.2 mph on his fastball and touched 98.9.
Also encouraging was Abel’s location. He missed the strike zone some, but when he did, they were good misses, largely below the zone with breaking balls. Abel mostly stayed out of the middle of the zone.
“When I'm missing down there, I'm happy,” he said. “I'd much rather have those than the ones that are on the side.”
It’s the second three-inning scoreless start from Abel this spring, following one against a much more representative lineup from the Tigers in Lakeland. He has 11 strikeouts this spring and hasn’t walked a batter.
Abel is one of four pitchers vying for three spots in the Twins’ rotation, with Taj Bradley, Simeon Woods Richardson and Zebby Matthews.
Minor League injuries
Catcher Enrique Jimenez, who ended last year as the Twins’ No. 28 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, has suffered a fractured right ring finger and will miss at least three to four weeks. Jimenez was acquired in the trade that sent Chris Paddack to Detroit at last year's Trade Deadline.
Right-hander Matt Barr, the team’s No. 22 prospect in the year-end rankings, has a stress fracture of the ulna bone in his right arm and will not be ready by Opening Day. Barr was the Twins’ fifth-round pick in last year’s Draft.