Minnesota Twins ace Pablo Lopez likely faces season-ending Tommy John surgery after being diagnosed with a significant tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, general manager Jeremy Zoll announced Tuesday. The 30-year-old Venezuelan pitcher ended a bullpen session early Monday due to elbow soreness, prompting the diagnosis that could sideline him for the entire 2026 season.

Lopez, who was preparing to represent Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, has been Minnesota's Opening Day starter for three consecutive seasons. Last year, he was limited to just 75⅔ innings over 14 starts due to multiple injuries, posting a 2.74 ERA while battling hamstring, shoulder and forearm issues. From 2022-2024, the 2023 All-Star consistently made 32 starts annually, including a career-high 15 wins in 2024.

The injury creates a significant rotation gap for the Twins, who already have Joe Ryan as their other established starter. Bailey Ober, Zebby Matthews, Simeon Woods Richardson, Taj Bradley and Mick Abel are now competing for the remaining rotation spots. Lopez's absence represents a major blow to Minnesota's playoff aspirations and their pitching depth heading into the 2026 season.