Twins' Pablo López Throws for First Time Since Tommy John Surgery, Eyes 2027 Return

Minnesota Twins pitcher Pablo López took a major step forward in his recovery from Tommy John surgery on Friday, playing catch for the first time since the procedure in February. The 30-year-old right-hander threw from roughly 30 to 45 feet at Petco Park before the Twins' series opener against the San Diego Padres.

López, who had the surgery after suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament during spring training, said the session felt better than expected. The milestone comes as he hopes to be fully recovered in time for the start of the 2027 season.

What happened in López's first throwing session?

López played catch for about 10 minutes under the watchful eye of manager Derek Shelton. The brief session marked the first time he had thrown a baseball since undergoing surgery in late February.

“It felt good, and what a place to do it, San Diego is perfect,” López said. “It was nerve wracking. I felt like I was warming up to throw a postseason game, because they let me do my normal pre-throw routine, which I had to figure out on the spot. I was trying to remember. So I went through some muscle memory, transitioned from one station to the other. But once I got out there, I was able to just feel the arm path. From such a short distance, 30-45 feet, there's not going to be a lot of air under the ball. It's really just getting into a good rhythm, feeling your tempo.”

Shelton was equally encouraged by what he saw from his starter.

“It's a large step,” Shelton said. “His arm was moving forward and there was a baseball that came out of it. Even though it was only 30 feet and 45 feet, I think it was very encouraging. He left with a smile, I think I left with a smile.”

How did López get to this point?

López's road to recovery began in February when a live bullpen session during the Twins' first full-squad workout was cut short due to right elbow soreness. An MRI revealed significant tearing of his ulnar collateral ligament, and a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister confirmed the need for surgery. Meister performed the procedure in late February.

López received the green light to begin throwing after a recent follow-up appointment with Meister in Texas.

“It's the biggest green light that you're looking for,” López said. “I could check all the boxes, I could feel good every step of the way, but not until you hear the doctor saying, 'It's healed,' you don't get that full green light. That was all the affirmation I needed to make sure that I went into today [knowing] I was just going to be able to go out there, feel normal with my routine, and then, obviously, take it easy.”

This is the second time López has undergone Tommy John surgery. He previously had the procedure in 2014 while in the Mariners organization.

López's busy season off the mound

While recovering, López has stayed active with the Twins in ways that go beyond the typical rehab routine. He has appeared on the team's TV and radio broadcasts, charted pitches from the dugout, and served as an interpreter for media interviews.

He also took photos for the team's social media during the Field of Dreams Game in Iowa on Aug. 13, a moment that connected with Twins fans across the Midwest.

“Doing all those little side quests has been really fulfilling,” López said.

Shelton said he is eager to see López return to his primary role on the mound.

“For as good a human being as he is,” Shelton said, “to be able to start crossing hurdles to get back to doing what he should be doing instead of broadcasting games or translating, or whatever else he's doing, I'm just really excited we're going to get to watch him do what we actually pay him to do.”

What's next for López?

The next phase of López's recovery will involve gradually increasing the volume and distance of his throwing sessions. The team has not announced a specific timeline for those steps, but the early signs are positive.

For Twins fans, the news offers hope that López could return to the rotation at full strength in 2027, giving Minnesota a key piece of its pitching staff for years to come.