What will the Minnesota Twins do with their 2026 campaign now that their starting rotation is suddenly without its star ace?
The Minnesota Twins were not preparing for a 2026 campaign without their ace, but just one day into spring training, they saw star right hander Pablo Lopez suffer a serious injury. The Twins confirmed the devastating update Friday that Lopez will undergo season-ending Tommy John Elbow surgery for his torn right ulnar collateral ligament. Texas Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister will perform the surgery on the 30-year-old next week, marking the second Tommy John surgery for Lopez. He missed the 2014 season after having the surgery as a minor leaguer with Seattle.
Lopez has been the Twins’ opening day starter for three years running and was also set to pitch for his native Venezuela in the upcoming World Baseball Classic next month. He’s been an impact player since the Miami Marlins traded him to Minnesota, making the All-Star team in his first year with the organization and helping the Twins end a record-18-game postseason losing streak in the 2023 playoffs, going 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA. Now, Minnesota enters the season with total uncertainty in their starting rotation that was completely rattled by this unexpected injury. What will the change up in their pitching staff look like, and who will need to step up? Will they still try to contend or trade off pieces?
Here is Twins Roundtable writer Gavin Groe on what major decision could lie in Minnesota with another starting pitcher.
It’s a disappointing, abrupt halt to any momentum as the team tries to evaluate their rotation and potential competitiveness in the 2026 season without their ace in Lopez.