Twins’ Pablo López Faces Possible Surgery After UCL Tear
The Minnesota Twins have been dealt a major early-season blow: right-hander Pablo López will miss an extended period after an MRI revealed a significant tear to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. The club says López will get a second medical opinion and surgery is an option that would sideline him for the entire 2026 season if pursued.
How the injury unfolded
López exited a live throwing session in Fort Myers on Monday after experiencing soreness in his right elbow. He had been pushing ahead of his normal spring timeline because he was preparing to pitch for Venezuela in the upcoming international tournament. He completed his first two innings without issue, but after two pitches in the third inning he returned to the dugout and informed pitching coach Pete Maki that his elbow felt sore. An MRI followed and revealed the significant UCL tear.
The team’s general manager, Jeremy Zoll, confirmed the diagnosis on Tuesday (ET) and emphasized that López will seek a second opinion before a definitive treatment plan is chosen. Should surgery be required, the recovery timetable would effectively rule López out for all of next season.
Context and implications for the rotation
López, 29, was expected to anchor the Twins’ rotation in 2026 after battling through shoulder and forearm injuries that cost him more than half of the 2025 campaign. He entered the most recent offseason healthy, and the club had counted on his experience and high-end stuff to lead a staff that had questions about depth behind its veterans.
An All-Star in 2023, López posted a 2. 74 ERA across 14 starts last season and has a 3. 68 ERA in 78 starts since joining the Twins in the trade that sent infielder Luis Arraez to his former club in January 2023. Those numbers underscored his value to Minnesota’s rotation and amplified the impact of this latest setback.
With the possibility of surgery looming, Minnesota’s front office and coaching staff will need to accelerate contingency planning. Options include reshuffling the current rotation, investing in internal depth spring competitions, and potentially exploring additions before Opening Day depending on the specifics of López’s prognosis and recovery timeline.
Next steps and outlook for López
For now, López will pursue a second medical evaluation to determine whether non-surgical management is feasible or if a reconstructive procedure is the best path forward. If surgery is elected, the typical recovery for an operation addressing a significant UCL tear—including rehabilitation and a gradual throwing progression—would make a return in 2026 unlikely.
Medical staff and team officials will likely monitor López closely over the coming days and provide updates as the second opinion is completed and a definitive plan is set. The club’s cautious approach reflects the high stakes: López is a 29-year-old pitcher with top-of-rotation credentials, and preserving his long-term effectiveness will be a priority even if it means missing an entire season.
In the short term, the Twins are left to prepare for a season without one of their intended rotation leaders and to weigh how aggressively they will respond in roster construction. For López, the focus shifts from spring preparation and international competition to diagnosis, decision-making, and rehabilitation planning.
