Twins ace Pablo Lopez to have Tommy John surgery

Field Level Media|published: Fri 20th February, 15:03 2026

MLB: Cleveland Guardians at Minnesota Twins

Sep 19, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez (49) throws to the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Minnesota Twins ace right-hander Pablo Lopez will undergo Tommy John surgery next week and miss the entire 2026 season, the team announced Friday.

Lopez will have surgery on Wednesday in Dallas to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. He also underwent the procedure in 2013 after his first season of professional baseball in the Seattle Mariners' system.

"Twins Territory is with you, Pablo," the team wrote on X.

Lopez, who turns 30 on March 7, made 32 starts per season from 2022-24 but endured three separate stints on the injured list in 2025, when he went 5-4 in 14 starts with a 2.74 ERA over 75 2/3 innings. A hamstring injury, a muscle injury in the back of his throwing shoulder and a forearm strain landed him on the IL.

In eight seasons with the Miami Marlins (2018-22) and Twins, Lopez is 59-53 with a 3.81 ERA in 172 games (all starts), with 994 strikeouts and 251 walks over 965 innings. The 2023 All-Star was entering the third season of a four-year, $73.5 million deal he signed in 2023.

--Field Level Media

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