- Oct 16, 2026
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Minnesota right-hander Pablo Lopez is progressing through rehabilitation from an internal brace procedure performed on his elbow in February, with a target of returning for Spring Training.
Lopez, who resumed playing catch in August, faces a 12-month recovery timeline. The procedure was not a full Tommy John surgery. It marks his second such operation; his first came in 2013 as a minor leaguer in the Seattle organization, which cost him the entire 2014 campaign.
"I'm going to go straight into spring training, straight into the fire," Lopez said.
An Opening Day roster spot remains possible but not guaranteed. Should Lopez be unavailable, the Twins could turn to Matthews, Abel if healthy, or Rojas to fill a rotation vacancy.
The Twins pitching staff ranked 22nd in ERA during the 2026 season. Ryan delivered a strong campaign, while Bradley established himself as a mid-rotation presence. Kremer posted a 3.48 ERA and sub-1.00 WHIP following a deadline acquisition. Ober, Matthews, and Prielipp battled inconsistency, and Abel showed promise before an elbow issue ended his season, with relief work now projected for him.
Source: MLB Trade Rumors - Sat Oct 24, 5:35 PM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).