Twins Lose Ace Pitcher Pablo López to Tommy John Surgery

Star right-hander to miss entire 2026 season, casting uncertainty over Minnesota's rotation plans.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 12:20am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's motion broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in muted earth tones, conveying the disruption caused by the loss of a team's top starter.The Twins' rotation takes a hit as their ace Pablo López faces a lengthy recovery from Tommy John surgery.Minnesota City Today

Pablo López, the Minnesota Twins' top starting pitcher, will undergo Tommy John surgery on Wednesday, sidelining him for the entire 2026 MLB season. This will be the second Tommy John procedure for the 29-year-old, who was acquired by the Twins in a January 2023 trade. López had been a reliable force atop the Twins' rotation over the past three seasons, but a UCL tear discovered during spring training has now derailed his 2026 campaign.

Why it matters

The loss of López is a significant blow to the Twins' playoff aspirations, as he had emerged as one of the team's most valuable pitchers. With the veteran sidelined, Minnesota will need to rely more heavily on younger arms like Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, and Simeon Woods Richardson to anchor the rotation, while also potentially exploring outside options to fill the void.

The details

López, who will earn $21.75 million this season and next on a four-year, $73.5 million contract, initially sought a second opinion on the UCL tear, but the diagnosis was confirmed, leading to the decision for Tommy John surgery. He is expected to miss the entire 2026 season and hopes to be ready for the start of the 2027 campaign, which would be the final year of his current deal with the Twins.

  • Pablo López is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery on Wednesday, April 13, 2026.
  • López is expected to miss the entire 2026 MLB season and aims to return for the start of the 2027 season.

The players

Pablo López

A 29-year-old right-handed starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins, who will miss the 2026 season due to Tommy John surgery.

Joe Ryan

A Twins starting pitcher who is likely to start Opening Day with López sidelined.

Bailey Ober

A Twins starting pitcher who aims to rebound from a tough 2025 season.

Simeon Woods Richardson

A Twins starting pitcher who posted a 4.04 ERA across 111 1/3 innings in 2025 and is a rotation candidate.

Tom Pohlad

The new executive chair of the Minnesota Twins, who has emphasized a commitment to competing despite the loss of López.

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What they’re saying

“We must explore all options to fill the void left by Pablo's injury and give our team the best chance to compete this season.”

— Tom Pohlad, Executive Chair, Minnesota Twins

What’s next

The Twins will need to determine how to best replace López in the rotation, potentially looking to free agent options or further developing their young pitching prospects.

The takeaway

The loss of Pablo López is a significant setback for the Twins, who must now rely more heavily on their depth and young pitching talent to remain competitive in the AL Central. This injury highlights the fragility of a team's rotation and the importance of developing strong organizational pitching resources.