The Minnesota Twins confirmed that starting pitcher Pablo Lopez will undergo Tommy John surgery, effectively ending his 2026 season before it begins.
Lopez was pulled from batting practice earlier this week with elbow soreness, and an MRI revealed a partial UCL tear in his right elbow. The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman confirmed the surgery decision, which puts the 29-year-old right-hander on the shelf until at least 2027.
It’s the second Tommy John surgery for Lopez, who had the procedure early in his professional career while in the Seattle organization. That experience should help with the mental side of recovery, but it doesn’t make the timing any less brutal for Minnesota.
The injury caps off what’s been a frustrating stretch for the All-Star pitcher. Between a hamstring strain, Grade 2 teres major strain, and forearm issues, Lopez managed just 14 starts in 2025. He was effective when healthy, posting a 5-4 record with a 2.74 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, but staying on the field has become the bigger challenge.
Now that Lopez is out, the Twins will lean heavily on Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Zebby Matthews, and Simeon Woods Richardson. That’s not exactly a rotation built for October, but it’s what they’ve got to work with.
The financial hit stings too. Minnesota’s on the hook for Lopez’s $21.75 million salary this season while he rehabs. By the time he’s ready to pitch again, he’ll be 31 and facing questions about whether he can stay healthy long-term.
What makes this situation tougher is that the Twins have gotten used to planning around Lopez’s absences. That’s not exactly where you want to be with a pitcher making this kind of money, but it’s been the reality for a while now.
The recovery timeline puts Lopez’s return somewhere in the 2027 season, assuming everything goes smoothly. Given his injury history, that’s a pretty big assumption.
