Twins Ace Pablo López Faces Potential Season-Ending Tommy John Surgery
Fort Myers, FL – Minnesota Twins right-hander Pablo López is likely facing season-ending Tommy John surgery after being diagnosed with a significant tear in the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of his right elbow, according to General Manager Jeremy Zoll. The news comes as a major blow to the Twins’ pitching rotation as they begin spring training.
Injury Details and Timeline
López, 29, experienced soreness during a bullpen session on Monday, February 17, 2026, and was forced to stop after throwing two-plus innings. An MRI revealed the UCL tear. While López will seek a second opinion, surgery is considered a likely outcome, which would sideline him for the entire 2026 season. He was preparing to join Venezuela for the World Baseball Classic when the injury occurred.
Previous Injury History
This latest injury adds to a recent history of health concerns for López. He was limited to 75⅔ innings over 14 starts in 2025 due to hamstring, shoulder, and forearm issues. Despite these setbacks, López has been a key contributor to the Twins’ pitching staff since arriving in a trade with the Miami Marlins in January 2023, posting a 3.68 ERA over 78 starts.
Impact on the Twins Rotation
López has been the Twins’ Opening Day starter for the past three seasons. His absence creates a significant void in the rotation. The Twins similarly have Joe Ryan as a starting pitcher, with Bailey Ober, Zebby Matthews, Simeon Woods Richardson, Taj Bradley and Mick Abel all competing for rotation spots.
López’s Reaction
López expressed his disappointment, stating, “Talk about going from 100 to a zero on the scale of being excited, being pumped, being just ultimately happy to be here and then you get to hear news like that… We’re all adults. We all know what certain scenarios look like. (I’m) trying to navigate a lot of emotions.”
Looking Ahead
General Manager Jeremy Zoll acknowledged the setback, stating, “Obviously, (this) feels particularly unfortunate (after) day one of camp… It’s definitely a blow, but we’re going to just do the best we can to push forward.” The Twins will now need to reassess their pitching plans and rely on other members of their staff to step up in López’s absence.