Minnesota Twins right-hander Pablo López could be finished playing in 2026 before the season has even begun.
López sustained a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow that's likely to require surgery, general manager Jeremy Zoll revealed Tuesday, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic.
López will seek a second opinion in the coming days, according to Hayes. However, the tear is considered to be significant, meaning season-ending surgery is "very much on the table," Zoll said, per The Athletic's Aaron Gleeman.
"Talk about going from 100 to a zero on the scale of being excited, being pumped, being just ultimately happy to be here and then you get to hear news like that," López said, according to Hayes. "We're all adults. We all know what certain scenarios look like. (I'm) trying to navigate a lot of emotions."
On Monday, López ended a live bullpen session early after feeling elbow soreness. He underwent an MRI later in the day, which revealed the tear.
The 29-year-old only made 14 starts in 2025 while battling hamstring, shoulder, and forearm injuries. The Twins placed him on the injured list in late September with a mild right forearm strain, which he sustained while fielding his position. The current issue is unrelated to that injury.
López, a 2023 All-Star, was expected to again slot in as Minnesota's No. 2 starter behind Joe Ryan. He's under contract through 2027 and will earn $21.5 million each of the next two seasons.
His injury also has ramifications for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Venezuela added López to its roster for the tournament earlier in February in hopes of him anchoring his country's staff alongside Ranger Suárez and Eduardo Rodriguez.
Although López has previously dealt with shoulder issues, this marks the first major elbow injury of his eight-year career.
