In 2026, the Minnesota Twins dealt with major injuries to several key players, including Byron Buxton, Pablo López and Joe Ryan. With the offseason in full swing, let's take a look at the status of every Twins player who ended the season injured.
Complete list of injured Twins players and their status
CF Byron Buxton
Buxton underwent surgery for his right hip impingement in September. Earlier this month, he had the stitches removed and began the rehab process, according to The Athletic's Dan Hayes.
Buxton appeared on track to win another Silver Slugger Award before he landed on the IL in early July with his hip issue. The Twins activated him two weeks later, only to place him on the IL again because of his hip. Minnesota activated Buxton on Aug. 13 but placed him on the IL again on Aug. 30 with the same issue.
Buxton, 33 in December, should be ready for the start of spring training. In 2026, he posted 2.6 fWAR and a .254/.319/.511 (128 wRC+) slash line with 25 home runs, 46 RBI and seven stolen bases over 93 games.
OF Walker Jenkins
Jenkins underwent right elbow debridement surgery after the end of the regular season, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale. He is expected to be ready for the beginning of spring training.
Jenkins, Minnesota's consensus No. 1 overall prospect, slashed .226/.293/.393 with four home runs and 10 RBI over 26 games after being called up to the majors in late August. He had a strong finish to the season, hitting .385/.400/.615 (186 wRC+) with three home runs and five RBI in 40 plate appearances over his final 10 games.
RHP Pablo López
López missed the entire 2026 season after undergoing an internal brace procedure in February. The right-hander began playing catch in August and is expected to return in spring training, he told Nightengale.
Next year will be López's final season of team control with Minnesota. Since joining Minnesota ahead of the 2023 season, López has posted a 3.68 ERA with 505 strikeouts in 455 innings across 78 starts.
RHP Jeff Hoffman
The Twins placed Hoffman on the IL on Sept. 23 with a right elbow injury. He recently underwent right arthroscopic elbow surgery, per Hayes. Hoffman will begin a throwing program in roughly two months and is expected to be ready for the beginning of the 2027 season.
The Toronto Blue Jays traded Hoffman to the Twins at this year's trade deadline for a prospect package headlined by left-hander Dasan Hill. Hoffman is under team control through next season. After joining the Twins, the right-hander recorded a 2.50 ERA over 18 innings while striking out 27.
RHP Mick Abel
Abel began the season in the Twins' starting rotation but lasted just four starts before landing on the IL. He came close to being activated in June, but the Twins shut him down after he felt more discomfort in his elbow. After that, Abel underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow and missed the rest of the season.
Minnesota acquired Abel and catching prospect Eduardo Tait from the Philadelphia Phillies at the 2025 trade deadline for star closer Jhoan Duran. He made four appearances for Minnesota in 2025 and then made the Opening Day staff after a strong spring training. He struggled in his first two 2026 outings and then threw 13 scoreless innings across his final two starts of the season.
Late last month, Abel was seen throwing off a mound, according to Hayes. Based on that, he will likely return in spring training.
RHP David Festa
Festa missed the entire season. In July, Festa underwent thoracic outlet surgery and a procedure to address a shoulder impingement, ending his season.
In 25 outings between 2024 and 2025, Festa posted a 5.12 ERA with 130 strikeouts over 117 2/3 innings. He has mainly been a starter throughout his professional career, but he could be moved to the bullpen next year. He doesn't have an official return date yet.
RHP Cole Sands
The Twins placed Sands on the injured list in early May with a right forearm strain. He began a rehab assignment in early June but was shut down. He went on another rehab assignment in July and was activated later in the month, only to land on the IL again after just one outing with Minnesota. He underwent season-ending arthroscopic elbow surgery. He is expected to be ready for spring training.
In his limited action with the Twins this year, Sands recorded a rough 8.25 ERA over 13 appearances.
RHP Mike Paredes
Paredes played a key role for Minnesota this season, serving as a back-end rotation arm while the Twins dealt with several starting pitching injuries. The Twins placed him on the IL in late July with a left oblique strain, which ended his season. The right-hander recorded a 4.72 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings across nine appearances (five starts) with Minnesota this year. He doesn't have an official return date but there's a strong chance he will be ready for spring training since his injury isn't related to his throwing arm.
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