HOUSTON — Bailey Ober is used to getting threats and harassment sent his way online, a sad reality of being a professional athlete in 2025. But after his wife, Montana, was recently sent death threats — including one the Twins pitcher called “too specific,” that “had a plan to do something,” — Ober felt it was time to speak up.

“It’s tough,” he said. “I think every single guy in here has probably experienced it and usually it doesn’t bother me too much, but Tana was getting them and kind of specific stuff about our kids. That’s where it kind of irks me and crosses the line.”

This type of thing happens more than the general public realizes, current and former players said. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, who discussed the matter with Ober on the team flight to Houston, said the threats made to players were “not rare.”

“No one should have to deal with that. We know that. Everyone knows that,” Baldelli said. “But the world has changed in some ways and now this is becoming a reality for everybody who shows up here, and just wants to be part of the game and play or work in baseball. Sadly, that’s the case. You have to be a pretty strong individual to be able to handle that. Families have to handle these things, too, who are back home and having to bear that burden.”

And while these scenarios might not be uncommon, threats and harassment seem to have picked up more in recent years, with a couple key reasons for it.

One, it’s easier to reach a player than it ever has been thanks to social media, which allows people a direct line to athletes. And two, an increase in sports gambling has led to angry bettors directing their ire at players when they lose money.

“Sadly, it’s been going on for a while,” Ober said. “I think it might be starting to pick up just a little bit more with the betting things that are going on. I would assume that’s probably what is causing these people to do so. You just kind of realize that these are the people that need the most help and kind of have that perspective.”

To combat these things, Ober has limited who can comment on his social media posts and has made his Venmo account private after getting requests from bettors asking him to pay them back for the money they lost.

“What Bailey’s dealing with and his family (is) dealing with, it’s wrong and we’re just going to support him and help him in any way possible,” Baldelli said. “It’s something that we’ve had to deal with a number of our players over the last couple of years.”

Briefly

The Twins/Tigers game set for June 29 in Detroit has been picked up by ESPN for Sunday Night Baseball. The game, which was supposed to be a day game, will now be played at 6 p.m. CT. … Reliever Michael Tonkin cleared waivers on Friday. Tonkin, who was on a rehab assignment, was reinstated from the 60-day injured list and outrighted to Triple-A. … Aaron Sabato, the Twins’ first-round pick in 2020, was promoted to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday. Sabato, 26, was hitting .305 with a .973 OPS in 39 games at Double-A Wichita this year.

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