Minnesota Twins Pitcher Receives Death Threats After Latest Start

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Bailey Ober, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

To say that the Minnesota Twins played poorly against the Texas Rangers would be putting it too lightly. Rocco Baldelli’s team gave up 34 runs in three games, to a team that had scored just 17 total runs in their previous six games coming in. Minnesota got a win in game two but they were outscored by 21 runs in the series. Yikes…

Most of the issues during the Twins’ three-game set this week vs the Rangers came from the pitching mound. Simeon Woods Richardson returned to the rotation and surrendered seven runs (six earned) in just 4 2/3 innings. Jorge Alcala followed by allowing 6 more earned runs in his 1.2 innings, before he was traded immediately following the game.

Then this afternoon, after David Festa flew in and saved the Twins’ tail Wednesday night by holding Texas to two runs on three hits, Bailey Ober — who we found out this morning has been dealing with two different injuries — turned in an ugly 4.2 innings where he allowed seven runs (all earned) on six hits and six walks.

Bailey Ober - Miami Marlins at Minnesota Twins
Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

No one is more frustrated with these recent performance than the players in the clubhouse. When he left the mound, Ober could be seen hanging his head in clear disappointment, after letting his teammates and Minnesota Twins fans down in a moment where they so desperately needed him to come through.

Bailey Ober receives death threats after poor performance

There’s no way to dress it up. Injuries be damned, Bailey Ober stunk up the joint on Thursday. It was his second straight tough outing, bringing his total runs allowed over the past two games (11.2 IP) to 12. But no high-level athlete or performer deserves what happened next, when Ober got back to his phone after coming off the mound Thursday.

That’s when the 29-year-old College of Charleston alum told Dan Hayes (The Athletic) opened (assumedly) a direct message with a threat on his life, due to his poor performance on the mound today.

One of the best things about the internet is that it gives everyone a voice. That truth literally spreads to anyone. And on some apps, like X, it can literally be anyone, no matter how small the account. “Normal” people who, social media, would otherwise never be heard.

The problem with the amplification of those “common” folk, however, is that some of the people sitting behind these screens are downright vile, and live completely void of empathy.

Minnesota Twins pitcher isn’t the only one dealing with online threats

In his tweet reporting the Ober death threats, for example, Hayes shared an article posted to The Athletic on Lance McCullers, who was subject to some brutal threats from a drunk, angry gambler earlier this season. It was so bad that the Houston Astros contacted the police who helped them track down the source of the threats.

“I’ve received (something) as simple as a Venmo request with a threat on it that says, ‘You owe me $9,000 because you blew the game – I need you to send me that money or I’m going to find your family,. That’s too far. We’ve communicated as players to MLB security that we need to get a handle on this before it gets out of control. I don’t want to say this, but something bad is going to happen and it’s going to be like, ‘We told you so.’”

Anonymous player – The Athletic

The Minnesota Twins — along with the rest of the 29 teams across Major League Baseball — employ professional athletes, yes. But they are also humans. Bailey Ober, Lance McCullers… they are all sons, brothers, parents, husbands, etc.

Bailey Ober has showcased his welcoming personality by collaborating on different with local cleat artists and he is active on social media. He’s also one of the rare professional athletes whose DMs are still open to the public. Probably not anymore, though.

Actions of the few will continue to hurt the experience of many

It won’t be at all shocking when the opportunity for fans to access their favorite celebrities or athletes dry up completely, due to interactions like what Bailey experienced today. Is having a presence on social media worth reading the increasing amounts of terrible messages these celebrities get?

“X isn’t fun anymore.”

“It’s brought more fans to the games the wrong way.”

Anonymous players – The Athletic

It’s every single one of these interactions that shape the future. Whether fueled completely by the ever-changing gambling landscape or not, the fact that they have to be addressed is ridiculous. Unfortunately, that’s the sad reality we currently live in.

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