Twins fans can't even settle into the excitement of a new season waiting to be unveiled. Just a few days into 2026 Spring Training, there is already a reason to start worrying about one of the team's best players.
Minnesota starting pitcher Pablo López left his live bullpen session early on Monday due to elbow soreness, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. With a starting rotation expected to perform well this season, those projections would go sideways quick if López misses any time. There is positivity surrounding the team going into a new campaign, but this latest report has fans unexpectedly gasping for air.
Pablo López is dealing with arm soreness in opening days of Twins' spring camp
López will go for an MRI, which will hopefully signal that there is no structural damage to his elbow. But there is added reason for Twins fans to panic already. López miss significant time in 2025 due to time spent on the injured list with a mild mid right forearm strain and also a right shoulder strain.
His entire throwing arm has dealt with nagging injuries, so there is justification in fans jumping to conclusions already. They have been down that road after López missed all of June, July, and August in 2025.
What makes this sting even more is that López was seen standing and talking with Twins legend Johan Santana on Monday morning, his favorite player.
Fun sight in Twins camp: Pablo López throwing live batting practice and then coming back to the dugout to talk to his childhood hero Johan Santana, who will also be his pitching coach for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. pic.twitter.com/cxggDaJtIR
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) February 16, 2026
López had already thrown a bit in Fort Myers before Monday's exit. He threw a bullpen session on Friday with seemingly no problems.
All of that was reserved for the start of the first full week of spring action.
Video: Pablo López throwing a bullpen session with Johan Santana and Pete Maki watching. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/9YUcyDDAkt
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) February 13, 2026
Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober are expected to be major difference-makers in the starting rotation this season, but if López misses more time, this staff will struggle again. López is too good and too valuable to continue sustaining injuries to his throwing arm. He is known to be a workhorse, logging 180 or more innings in three straight seasons before 2025. His arm failed him last year, and we need to hope that those problems do not transistion into 2026.
We're not off to a good start there.