Pablo López Opens Up on Year Away From the Mound After Peer Honor

The Minnesota Twins went all of 2026 without one of their best arms, yet his name keeps showing up on award lists.

Right-handed pitcher Pablo López, who missed the whole season after right elbow surgery in February, was named on Wednesday as one of three finalists for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, part of the yearly awards picked by the players.

The award goes to the player whose leadership most inspires others, and the winner will be announced the week of Oct. 26.

I like this nod because the votes come from other players, and López earned it in a year he spent in the clubhouse and out in the community instead of on the mound.

López was also the Twins' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award in September, his third straight nomination with Minnesota.

During his rehab, the team said he worked as an interpreter and mentor for Spanish-speaking players and also helped out on Twins broadcasts.

He talked about that side of his year back in September, and he spoke freely about what the time away taught him.

López said, "This year has been a lot of growth on the mental side of things. Who am I when I'm not pitching? What are my other identities that are giving me fulfillment, that are filling my cup?"

Getting López healthy is the most important thing for Minnesota next season, at least in my view.

The Twins finished 77-85 and third in the AL Central, and MLB.com's Matthew Leach wrote that with a healthy López, the team probably would have been at least a .500 club.

His recovery has gone well so far, according to MLB.com, and he is expected to start throwing off a mound in November with hopes of a close to normal spring training.

Pitchers usually lack their best command in the first year back from Tommy John surgery, so I would not expect the old López right away, though even a steady version of him would give this rotation a big lift.

The clock is running too, because López, starting pitcher Joe Ryan and pitchers Dean Kremer and Bailey Ober are all set to reach free agency after 2027.

Ryan is already heading into a big contract year, which means next season could be the last real shot for this group to win together.

Manager Derek Shelton has called López one of the best teammates and best people around, while general manager Jeremy Zoll said his commitment to others never wavered even in a year when injury kept him off the mound.

Chairman Tom Pohlad has also said he plans to raise payroll for 2027, but that push only works if the Twins get their best players back on the field.

Center fielder Byron Buxton, who had hip surgery on Sept. 18, is also working his way back this winter, so a lot of next season rides on two players getting healthy.

The award would be a nice moment, but I care more about November, when López is supposed to get back on a mound, since that will be the first real sign of whether Minnesota gets its best arm back.