Ober, Keaschall begin rehab assignments with Triple-A Saint Paul
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Twins right-hander Bailey Ober took an impactful step towards an eventual return to the Majors on Friday night.
Ober tossed four scoreless innings in his first rehab start for Triple-A St. Paul, as he works his way back from a left hip impingement. He scattered four hits while recording three strikeouts, throwing 50 pitches (43 strikes).
Ober’s four-seam fastball velocity -- which had dipped at various points this season -- averaged 90.4 mph and topped out at 91.6 mph.
Ober originally landed on the 15-day injured list on July 2, though he had been pitching through his hip ailment for much of the season. Earlier this month, he speculated that he may have altered his delivery to “protect” the injury, causing issues with his mechanics.
A key part to Minnesota’s rotation entering the season, Ober has a 5.28 ERA through 17 starts this season. He’s allowed 21 home runs in just 92.0 innings, with 14 of those homers coming in June.
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Second baseman Luke Keaschall -- on the IL since April 26 with a fractured right forearm -- also began a rehab assignment on Friday. Keaschall went 1-for-5 with an RBI single while serving as the team’s designated hitter, batting leadoff.
A second-round pick in the 2023 Draft, Keaschall hit .368 in seven games with the big league club earlier this season.