Twins Ace Pablo López to Undergo Season-Ending Tommy John Surgery

Minnesota's star pitcher will miss the entire 2026 season after tearing his ulnar collateral ligament.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 10:35pm

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Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Pablo López will undergo Tommy John surgery on Wednesday to repair a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, sidelining him for the entire 2026 season. López, the team's ace, said he knew the surgery was likely after receiving a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, but is trying to remain positive and use the time to grow mentally during the rehab process.

Why it matters

The loss of López is a major blow to the Twins' pitching rotation, as he has emerged as one of the team's top starters in recent years. His absence will put more pressure on the rest of the staff to step up and fill the void left by the injury.

The details

López said he was fairly certain the second opinion would recommend Tommy John surgery after initially feeling pain in his elbow. The 26-year-old right-hander underwent the same procedure in 2013 while in the minor leagues. Despite the difficult news, López is trying to stay positive and plans to use the rehab process to grow mentally. Manager Derek Shelton praised López's work ethic and leadership, saying his presence in the clubhouse will be valuable for the team even while he's sidelined.

  • On Wednesday, Pablo López will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament.
  • López first felt pain in his elbow and sought a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister.

The players

Pablo López

The Minnesota Twins' ace starting pitcher who will miss the entire 2026 season after tearing his ulnar collateral ligament and undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Derek Shelton

The manager of the Minnesota Twins, who praised López's work ethic and leadership and said his presence in the clubhouse will be valuable for the team during his rehab.

Dr. Keith Meister

The surgeon who will perform the Tommy John surgery on Pablo López on Wednesday.

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What they’re saying

“We knew what we were looking at. I think I'm a pretty realistic person. I know what's in front of me for the most part, so having made a decision, it's ironic in a way — it feels good because I know in the long run, it's going to be the best.”

— Pablo López

“He's the first one here every morning, and (teammates) can go over and sit and talk to him and lean on him. That's important. There's no better guy in that clubhouse. So, to have a person of that quality in there, not just the pitcher but the human being, I think it's important for our group.”

— Derek Shelton, Manager

What’s next

López will undergo Tommy John surgery on Wednesday with Dr. Keith Meister in Texas. He will then begin a lengthy rehab process that will keep him sidelined for the entire 2026 season.

The takeaway

The loss of Pablo López, the Twins' ace, is a major blow to their pitching rotation, but the team will look to rally around his leadership and positive attitude during his rehab. His presence in the clubhouse is seen as invaluable, even as he works to return to the mound in 2027.