
Pablo López Out for Months: How Will the Twins Adjust?
2025-06-05
Author: Kai
In a major blow to the Minnesota Twins, star pitcher Pablo López has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of the teres major muscle in his throwing shoulder. The team announced that he will miss an estimated eight to twelve weeks, effectively sidelining him for the majority of the remaining season.
López's injury flared up during his recent start against the Oakland Athletics, where he reported discomfort following warm-up pitches before the sixth inning. The Twins quickly anticipated this injury would necessitate a trip to the injured list, pending further medical imaging results.
A Familiar Challenge for the Twins
This specific shoulder injury is reminiscent of another in the Twins' rotation. Joe Ryan suffered a similar strain last August, which kept him out for the rest of the season. Fortunately, Ryan returned this year fitter than ever. This offers some hope for López, yet it doesn't mitigate the immediate impact of his absence on the team's rotation.
López’s Impressive Stats Before Injury
Throughout the season, López has shown exceptional form, boasting a 2.82 earned run average across 60 and two-thirds innings. He’s been a dominant force, striking out nearly 25% of hitters and allowing two or fewer runs in nine out of eleven outings. This performance hinted that he might achieve his first career sub-3.00 ERA, a feat now jeopardized.
Who's Stepping Up?
The Twins currently have one of the league's top pitching rotations, sitting fifth in Major League Baseball with a 3.43 ERA and an eighth-best 23.2% strikeout rate. With López out, 25-year-old right-hander David Festa has been selected to fill the void in the rotation. Festa was scratched from a Triple-A start to join the big league club for tomorrow’s game against the Athletics.
Festa, who had a promising debut last season with a 15:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 13 innings, has continued to shine in Triple-A with a 2.83 ERA and an impressive near-31% strikeout rate before succumbing to biceps inflammation earlier this season.
Twins at a Crossroads: What’s Next?
The Twins are in the midst of a tight AL Wild Card race, trailing behind the Tigers in the division. The rotation’s depth is a silver lining in this situation. However, the uncertainty surrounding López’s recovery could influence the Twins' strategy as the trade deadline approaches.
As the Twins navigate the challenges posed by López’s injury, fans will be watching closely to see how the team adapts and whether they can maintain their position in a competitive playoff race.