yardbarker
Minnesota Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez is making strides in his recovery from a February elbow procedure. After resuming a throwing program in August, the 28-year-old is targeting a return in time for Spring Training, which could put him in line for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Lopez did not undergo full Tommy John surgery; instead, he had an internal brace procedure, which typically involves a shorter rehabilitation period. A 12-month recovery timeline would have him back in a Twins uniform for spring action.
"In my case, chronologically speaking, I'm going to go straight into spring training, straight into the fire," Lopez told Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune.
The February surgery marked the second Tommy John-related procedure for Lopez. His first came in 2013 when he was a minor leaguer in the Seattle Mariners organization. That surgery followed a more standard recovery timeline, occurring at the end of the 2013 season and causing him to miss the entire 2014 campaign.
"I'm going to have to find ways to make sure that I'm listening to my body, make sure I'm keeping an eye on things that I didn't have to experience with my first Tommy John because I was done with rehab, and I had a normal offseason where I had rest and recovered," Lopez said.
The injury was part of a turbulent winter for the Twins. The organization introduced new minority owners in December, and Tom Pohlad took over as the team's control person. Team president Derek Falvey departed in January. Then came Lopez's injury, followed by a scare with Joe Ryan that turned out to be just lower back inflammation.
Getting Lopez back in the rotation would help solidify a group that posted mixed results in 2026. Ryan had another strong campaign, and Taj Bradley emerged as a mid-rotation option. Bailey Ober, Zebby Matthews, and Connor Prielipp struggled to deliver consistent results. Mick Abel showed flashes before an elbow issue ended his season. Overall, the staff ranked 22nd in ERA.
Dean Kremer was a nice buy-low addition near the trade deadline. Minnesota adjusted his pitch mix, leading to a 3.48 ERA and a sub-1.00 WHIP to close the year. The former Oriole is likely ticketed for a rotation spot in 2027.
If Lopez isn't ready for Opening Day, there could be a spot for Matthews, Abel (if healthy), or Kendry Rojas.
Originally reported by yardbarker.