Pablo López has been diagnosed with tearing in his right elbow's ulnar collateral ligament and is seeking a second opinion. Season-ending surgery, either an internal brace repair or a full Tommy John reconstruction, is a likely outcome and would end his 2026 season. López felt elbow discomfort after a recent bullpen session and underwent imaging that was initially framed as precautionary. The 29-year-old missed significant time in 2025, appearing in only 14 games and throwing 75 2/3 innings after a Grade 2 teres major strain and a later forearm strain. The UCL tear appears to have emerged in camp, and surgery would have sidelined him for 2026 regardless of timing.
"He's going for a second opinion, but season-ending surgery is on the table for López. López felt some elbow discomfort following a recent bullpen session. The Twins sent him for imaging but framed that as a precautionary measure. The situation has obviously taken a dramatic turn for the worse. The vast majority of UCL tears require surgical repair, whether it's an internal brace to repair/strengthen the existing ligament or a full reconstruction ("Tommy John") procedure. Either situation would end López's season before it begins."
"The 29-year-old López missed considerable time with injury in 2025, making it into only 14 games and pitching 75 2/3 innings. A Grade 2 strain of López's teres major muscle was the primary issue, but he finished the 2025 campaign on the shelf due to a forearm strain. Now-former president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said early in the offseason that López could have kept pitching through what the team described as a mild forearm strain had the club been in postseason contention."
"The veteran righty, who'll be 30 early next month, had a normal offseason. It seems the UCL tear is a new injury that popped up in camp (although even if there was a quiet inkling of a UCL issue late last season, the timing would remain largely unchanged; López would've been expected to miss the 2026 season regardless)."
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