Pablo López's Tommy John Surgery: A Setback for the Twins
The baseball world received some unfortunate news as Twins right-hander Pablo López is set to undergo Tommy John surgery, as reported by Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. This development comes after the team revealed that López had suffered a tear in his right elbow's ulnar collateral ligament earlier this week. Despite seeking a second opinion, it seems the worst-case scenario couldn't be avoided.
This will be López's second Tommy John procedure, with the first occurring over a decade ago. The surgery will sideline him for the entire 2026 season, and he aims to return early in the 2027 campaign, the final year of his four-year, $73.5MM contract with the Twins. López is set to earn $21.75MM in both this season and the next.
López has been a consistent performer near the top of Minnesota's rotation for the past three seasons. His combined 3.68 ERA, along with impressive strikeout (26.8%) and walk (5.8%) rates, has been a key asset for the team. Metrics like SIERA (3.48) and FIP (3.44) suggest he's even better than his solid earned run average indicates.
In 2025, López started the season strongly with a 2.82 ERA and solid rate stats through his first 11 starts. However, a Grade 2 strain of his teres major in early June cost him approximately three months. López returned in September with three sharp starts, but a minor forearm strain ended his season on the injured list.
The Twins initially stated that López could have pitched through the injury if they were in playoff contention. However, with their season already lost, they opted to shut him down. He received a clean bill of health soon after and had a generally normal offseason. The UCL tear seemingly occurred during his first bullpen session this spring.
Minnesota made some significant moves last summer, trading away several impending free agents and tearing down the bullpen. However, they chose not to embark on a complete rebuild this winter. After some initial uncertainty, the team's sale of a minority stake to new shareholders provided the front office with the means to make some modest additions. Free agents Victor Caratini, Josh Bell, and Taylor Rogers were signed, and the Twins opted to retain López, Joe Ryan, Ryan Jeffers, and franchise center fielder Byron Buxton.
New executive chair Tom Pohlad has expressed his desire to compete and believes the roster has a better chance than many outsiders think. The Twins made late attempts to acquire Framber Valdez and also joined the bidding for Freddy Peralta, with both efforts coming after the ownership situation gained clarity. While neither deal materialized, it's evident that the Twins are open to considering external options, with notable veterans like Lucas Giolito and Zack Littell still unsigned.
With López out for the year, right-hander Joe Ryan is almost certain to take the mound on Opening Day. Bailey Ober, another right-hander, will aim to bounce back from a challenging season marred by an awful June, which led to an injured list stint due to a hip injury. Simeon Woods Richardson, out of minor league options, logged a 4.04 ERA in 111 1/3 innings last year and should secure a rotation spot.
Former top prospects Zebby Matthews and David Festa, along with deadline acquisitions Taj Bradley and Mick Abel, will compete for Opening Day rotation spots. Prospects like Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, and Andrew Morris could also challenge for innings as the season progresses, depending on their health and performance in Triple-A.
And this is the part most people miss... López's injury and subsequent surgery could have a significant impact on the Twins' season. With a depleted rotation, the team will need to rely on its depth and hope for some unexpected performances. It's a challenging situation, but one that could spark some interesting debates among fans and analysts. What do you think? Will the Twins be able to overcome this setback, or will it prove too much to handle? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
