The Minnesota Twins confirmed that pitcher Pablo López will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing successful ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) repair surgery with an internal brace on Wednesday. This development delivers a major setback to the team’s pitching rotation and their hopes for a playoff run. López’s 2026 injury prevents him from contributing after tearing the ligament during his first bullpen session of spring training.
At 29 years old, López avoided the more extensive Tommy John surgery through this internal brace procedure, which generally allows for a shorter recovery. Nevertheless, this means he will be sidelined for a full year as he recovers from the ligament repair.
Impact on a Key Starting Pitcher
Pablo López is no stranger to Tommy John surgery, having undergone the procedure early in his career as a minor leaguer over a decade ago. Since joining the Twins in January 2023 from the Miami Marlins in the trade that sent Luis Arraez to Miami, López has become an integral part of Minnesota’s pitching staff.
During his three seasons with Minnesota, López has posted a respectable 3.68 ERA, complemented by strong peripheral statistics including a 26.8% strikeout rate and a 5.8% walk rate. Advanced metrics such as SIERA (3.48) and FIP (3.44) suggest he has been even more effective than his ERA alone might indicate.
López showed promising form in 2025, starting with a 2.82 ERA through his first 11 starts. However, injuries impeded his campaign as a Grade 2 teres major strain sidelined him for nearly three months. Upon his return late in the season, he delivered three strong outings in September before finishing the year on the injured list due to forearm tightness.
Financial Consequences and Roster Adjustments
The pitcher is in the third year of a four-year, $73.5 million contract extension signed in April 2023. He is owed $21.75 million in both 2026 and 2027, which, combined with his injury status, makes him effectively untradeable at this moment. The Twins hope that the internal brace surgery’s quicker recovery timeline will enable López to return for the 2027 season, which will be the final year of his contract.
Losing López severely affects Minnesota’s rotation depth and diminishes their postseason chances, which FanGraphs now projects at just 26% following the injury announcement. The Twins were already seen as underdogs before spring training began, and losing their most dependable starter only complicates their path.
With López sidelined, Joe Ryan is expected to be promoted to the Opening Day starter position. Bailey Ober will attempt to rebound following an inconsistent 2025, while Simeon Woods Richardson, who posted a 4.04 ERA over 111⅓ innings last season, appears set to maintain a rotation spot.
The team has explored external additions to strengthen the pitching staff, having pursued late offseason opportunities for Framber Valdez and Freddy Peralta. Veteran pitchers such as Lucas Giolito and former Twin Zack Littell remain available on the free agent market as further reinforcements.
Twins’ new executive chair Tom Pohlad remains optimistic about the roster’s competitive potential despite this setback, underscoring recent signings like Victor Caratini, Josh Bell, and Taylor Rogers, and retaining core contributors including Joe Ryan and Byron Buxton.
Long-Term Outlook for the Twins’ Rotation
The absence of Pablo López creates immediate challenges for Minnesota’s pitching rotation and raises questions about the team’s ability to return to playoff contention next year. Although the internal brace surgery offers a faster path back compared to conventional Tommy John reconstruction, the Twins will face a full 2026 season without their most reliable starter.
“Obviously it’s really disappointing news,” Twins GM Jeremy Zoll told MLB.com. “You really feel for Pablo. His work ethic, how much he cares about his body, his preparation is second to none. Huge blow for him.”
