Twins' Pablo López Has Partial Elbow UCL Tear

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Pablo López faces a potentially season-ending injury after experiencing elbow soreness during a bullpen session at the team's spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida, on Monday.

The 29-year-old right-hander, who turns 30 next month, threw two-plus innings before stopping due to discomfort in what would have been his third frame. Twins manager Derek Shelton described the issue as minor at the time but emphasized caution. "We decided, out of an abundance of caution, let's get him off the field and make sure he's OK," Shelton told reporters. "We'll get some imaging on it, just because of how important he is to us."

Imaging revealed a partial tear in López's right elbow's ulnar collateral ligament, according to general manager Jeremy Zoll. The team is consulting specialists for a second opinion and weighing options, including Tommy John surgery or a rehabilitation program. Such procedures typically sideline pitchers for 12 to 18 months, which could wipe out López's entire 2026 campaign. Zoll noted that the injury appeared to arise during camp, though López had a normal offseason following a challenging 2025 season.