Twins' Pablo López to Undergo Second Tommy John Surgery

Injury will sideline the pitcher for the entire 2026 season.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Pablo López will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, the second such procedure of his career. The injury occurred during the team's first full-squad workout of spring training, and López is expected to miss at least 12 months of action.

Why it matters

Tommy John surgery is a major setback for any pitcher, often requiring over a year of recovery time. This is especially difficult for López, who is now facing his second elbow reconstruction surgery. The Twins will have to find a way to fill his spot in the rotation for the 2026 season.

The details

López was pitching live batting practice on Monday when he felt something in his right elbow and had to exit the mound. An MRI revealed a significant tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, requiring surgery. This will be the second Tommy John procedure of López's career, as he previously had the surgery in 2014.

  • On Monday, February 17, 2026, López was injured during the Twins' first full-squad workout.
  • On Wednesday, February 26, 2026, López is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery.

The players

Pablo López

A starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins who will miss the entire 2026 season due to his second Tommy John surgery.

Minnesota Twins

The Major League Baseball team that employs Pablo López and will have to find a way to replace him in their starting rotation for the 2026 season.

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What they’re saying

“I don't think it's hit me yet. It's sitting definitely heavy. … I think it's going to hit me harder next week when (surgery) happens and all of that. We knew what we were looking at. I think I'm a pretty realistic person. I know what's in front of me.”

— Pablo López (New York Times)

What’s next

The Twins will have to find a way to fill López's spot in the starting rotation for the 2026 season, as he is expected to miss at least 12 months of action following the surgery.

The takeaway

This injury is a major setback for Pablo López and the Twins, as the pitcher faces his second Tommy John surgery. It highlights the fragility of pitchers' arms and the challenges teams face when key starters go down with long-term injuries.