Pablo López’s season could be over before it even begins.
The Minnesota Twins starting pitcher has “significant tearing” in his ulnar collateral ligament, general manager Jeremy Zoll said Tuesday via MLB.com’s Matthew Leach, and Tommy John surgery “is very much on the table.»
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López will get a second opinion on his elbow this week in hopes that all he needs is an extended absence to recover and not surgery that would keep him out all of 2026.
The 29-year-old right-hander saw a Monday bullpen session cut short after he felt soreness in his elbow. The two-inning workout was part of the pitcher’s preparation ahead of representing Venezuela at the World Baseball Classic in March.
The Twins’ Opening Day starter in each of the past three seasons, López made only 14 starts during an injury-hampered 2025. He landed on the injured list in early June with a Grade 2 teres major strain in his right shoulder.
Three months later, López returned to action but only made three more starts before his season came to an end due to a right forearm strain.
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In three seasons since coming over in a trade with the Miami Marlins for Luis Arráez, López has made 78 starts for the Twins, throwing 455 innings, striking out 505 batters and recording a 1.16 WHIP. He was an AL All-Star in 2023.
The Twins went 70-92 last season and finished last in the AL Central. They have made the playoffs just four times since 2017 and only won one playoff series — the 2023 AL wild card — since 2002.
