Pablo López Set for Tommy John Surgery
Pablo López, the right-handed pitcher for the Minnesota Twins, is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery. This operation will take place on Wednesday, affecting his right elbow’s ulnar collateral ligament.
Pablo López’s Injury Details
This unfortunate news follows the Twins’ recent announcement of a UCL tear in López’s elbow. After seeking a second medical opinion, he faced what many considered the inevitable outcome. This will mark López’s second Tommy John surgery; his first occurred over ten years ago.
López is expected to miss the entire 2026 season with a goal to return early in the 2027 campaign. This coincides with the final year of his four-year, $73.5 million contract with the Twins, which sees him earning $21.75 million for both this season and the next.
Career Performance and Recent Statistics
The Twins acquired López from the Miami Marlins in January 2023, trading star player Luis Arraez for him along with two prospects. López has been a consistent performer for Minnesota, achieving a combined 3.68 ERA over the past three seasons.
His advanced metrics further showcase his effectiveness:
- Strikeout Rate: 26.8%
- Walk Rate: 5.8%
- Ground Ball Rate: 43.1%
- SIERA: 3.48
- FIP: 3.44
During the 2025 season, he started strong with a 2.82 ERA over his initial 11 starts. However, a Grade 2 strain of his teres major in June sidelined him for nearly three months. López made a brief return in September, allowing only four runs in fifteen innings before finishing the season on the injured list due to a minor forearm issue.
Twins’ Strategic Moves
The Twins had previously announced that López could have pitched later in the season had they been in playoff contention, but they chose to shut him down. His recovery seemed promising in the offseason, but the UCL tear emerged during his first spring training bullpen session.
Despite earlier uncertainties regarding team strategy, the Twins opted against a full rebuild after selling a minority stake to new shareholders. This allowed them to make several strategic acquisitions, including Victor Caratini, Josh Bell, and Taylor Rogers. Key players Joe Ryan, Ryan Jeffers, and Byron Buxton remain with the team as well.
Looking Ahead
With López out for the 2026 season, Joe Ryan is likely to take the mound on Opening Day. Other pitchers vying for rotation spots include Bailey Ober, who is looking to recover from an injury-plagued season, and Simeon Woods Richardson, who logged a 4.04 ERA in 111.1 innings last year.
The competition for rotation positions is fierce, with former top prospects like Zebby Matthews and David Festa, alongside mid-season acquisitions Taj Bradley and Mick Abel, all seeking opportunities. Additional prospects like Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, and Andrew Morris could also challenge for innings as the season progresses.
