Twins Ace Pablo Lopez to Undergo Season-Ending Tommy John Surgery for Torn UCL

Minnesota right-hander Pablo Lopez will miss the 2025 season after being diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament following a shortened bullpen session.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery next week in Texas to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament. The procedure, which will be performed by Texas Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister, follows a 2025 campaign where the ace posted a 5-4 record and a 2.74 ERA. This surgery marks the second time the 29-year-old—who turns 30 early next month—has required the procedure, having previously missed the 2014 season while in the Seattle Mariners organization as a minor leaguer. The Pablo Lopez surgery announcement comes after the pitcher exited a bullpen session early during the team's first full-squad workout this past Monday in Fort Myers, Florida.

General manager Jeremy Zoll confirmed the UCL tear on Tuesday, just 24 hours after first-year manager Derek Shelton initially expressed hope that the pitcher's early exit from the mound was merely a precautionary measure. The injury removes the Twins' primary rotation piece, as Lopez served as the franchise's opening-day starter for the previous three consecutive years. Beyond the MLB season, the right-hander was also scheduled to represent Venezuela in next month's World Baseball Classic. Lopez currently carries a $21.75 million salary for this season and remains under contract through the end of next year.

Since joining the Twins via trade from the Miami Marlins, Lopez has been a cornerstone of the pitching staff, earning an All-Star selection during his debut season in Minnesota. He played a pivotal role in the franchise's 2023 postseason success, recording a 2-0 record with a dominant 0.71 ERA across two playoff starts. Those performances helped Minnesota snap an 18-game postseason losing streak, which stood as a record for North American professional sports. Over his career, the right-hander has compiled a 59-53 record with a 3.81 ERA.

Durability had been a hallmark for Lopez prior to recent setbacks; he recorded three straight seasons with at least 32 starts and 10 wins, beginning with his final year in Miami. However, health issues began to surface last season when a shoulder injury restricted him to just 14 starts. Lopez originally reached the major leagues in 2018 with the Marlins, spending five years with the club before his move to the American League. His absence leaves a significant void in a rotation that relied on his veteran presence and career-long consistency on the mound.

With the surgery scheduled for next week, the Twins must now navigate the remainder of the spring training schedule without their projected number-one starter. The loss of Lopez follows a 2025 stretch where he maintained a sub-3.00 ERA through nine decisions. As the team prepares for the upcoming season, the focus shifts to a pitching staff that must replace the 10-win production Lopez provided during his healthiest years. The right-hander will focus on a lengthy rehabilitation process in hopes of returning to the form that saw him lead the staff during their historic 2023 playoff run.

The 2025 season had begun with high expectations for the right-hander, who had already logged significant innings during the early weeks of spring camp. His departure from the mound on Monday occurred after throwing fewer than 20 pitches, a sudden halt that immediately raised alarms among the coaching staff in Fort Myers. Medical evaluations including an MRI on Tuesday morning revealed the full extent of the damage to the elbow ligament, necessitating the invasive reconstruction. This specific injury pattern often requires a recovery window of 12 to 18 months, effectively ending any possibility of a return before the 2026 calendar year.

Financially, the impact on the Minnesota payroll is substantial, as Lopez represents one of the highest-paid players on the current roster. His $21.75 million figure for the current year is part of a multi-year extension signed following his arrival from the National League. The Twins front office must now evaluate internal candidates to fill the 190-plus innings that Lopez typically provided when healthy. During his peak 2023 season, he struck out 234 batters over 194 innings, finishing high in the Cy Young Award voting and establishing himself as a top-tier arm in the American League Central.

In the clubhouse, the loss of the Venezuelan native is felt beyond the box score, as he was frequently cited as a mentor for the younger arms in the organization. His preparation routines and analytical approach to hitters were central to the team's pitching philosophy over the last 24 months. The void in the rotation also impacts the bullpen, which will likely face increased workloads to cover the starts previously handled by the workhorse righty. Team officials noted that while the surgery is a setback, the success rate for second Tommy John procedures has improved significantly in recent years.

Looking back at his 2024 campaign, Lopez battled through various physical ailments to maintain a competitive presence, though his velocity showed slight fluctuations during the final month of that season. Despite those challenges, he remained the go-to option for high-stakes games, a testament to his mental toughness and tactical skill. The upcoming surgery in Texas will be the definitive step in addressing the structural instability that finally gave way during Monday's session. As the Twins move forward into the 2025 schedule, the absence of their number 35 jersey will be a constant reminder of the volatility inherent in professional pitching.