Bailey Ober Becomes Latest MN Twins Starter to Hit IL
The Minnesota Twins weren’t shy about touting their pitching depth this spring. Unfortunately, they continue to be served a heaping slice of humble pie early this season.
The bullpen, which was not supplemented after being torn to shreds last offseason, is in complete shambles. And the starting rotation just cannot get healthy.
Kendry Rojas was recently placed on the injured list with an elbow injury. He joined Pablo Lopez (Tommy John), Mick Abel (elbow inflammation), and David Festa (shoulder impingement).
Minnesota Twins lose Bailey Ober to elbow injury
Now, one day after being bludgeoned by the Pittsburgh Pirates (4.2 IP, 12 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 3 K), Bailey Ober has elbow inflammation too, and is heading to the injured list. That leaves the Minnesota Twins starting rotation with just two of the five arms they began the year with.
We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/RpMa2WyCE8
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) May 31, 2026
The Twins don’t have a ton of immediate starting options left on the farm, and even that didn’t stop them from pulling the plug on Simeon Woods Richardson. Mike Paredes, and 18th round pick in 2021 out of San Diego, has been promoted to take Ober’s spot.
Paredes has pitched in 136 games (372 1/3 innings) across six minor league seasons. He has made just 32 starts though, and has been deployed in a hybrid role. Minnesota has kept him in a consistent starting role with the Saints this season though, as he has started seven of his nine appearances.
Paredes owns a 3.38 ERA at Triple-A this year, and has compiled a 33/8 K/BB. The upside isn’t immense here, but the MN Twins could catch lightning in a bottle during a small stretch. Obviously the hope is that some of these injured pitchers are ready to return soon.
Incredible day for Mike Paredes. He goes 5.0 innings allowing one run on four hits and fans a career-tying high seven. 31 of his 63 pitches were sweepers and he threw them at a 71% strike rate and got 12 whiffs on 19 swings pic.twitter.com/YbC20UDLcz
— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) May 27, 2026
After throwing two innings and 39 pitches yesterday, John Klein was going to be unavailable, so the Twins brought back Travis Adams, as well.
Roles continue to fluctuate for MN Twins
The Minnesota Twins 26-man roster construction has left something to be desired for weeks. Byron Buxton is not ready to resume playing center field defensively, and that has pushed Kody Clemens to try a new position. And nobody is sure why James Outman is still on the roster.
Manager Derek Shelton is even starting Orlando Arcia at first base today against Pittsburgh. It’s his first exposure to the position, despite 1,021 big league games of experience prior to Sunday.
In his 1,022 career game, Orlando Arcia is making his first big league start at first base.
— Ted (@tlschwerz) May 31, 2026
The Twins could not possible do roster construction worse. https://t.co/NM6iQbzwcP
Tristan Gray and Ryan Kreidler, two career fringe types, continue to make starts at shortstop. Each only has a roster spot for defense, but provide a level of redundancy in conjunction with one another.
Of course all of this could be mitigated by promoting Kyler Fedko and top prospect Kaelen Culpepper. For whatever reason, the Minnesota Twins continue to chose death by self-inflicted paper cuts instead.
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