Minnesota Twins Provide Awful Injury Update on Top Prospect
If there was a bad day for Minnesota Twins news this season, it definitely was Tuesday May 19. Although Pablo Lopez’ torn UCL was a big blow during Spring Training, this week’s update provided an entire host of mostly negative injury updates and demotions.
Emmanuel Rodriguez to undergo surgery for MN Twins
Royce Lewis was demoted, Justin Topa was DFA’d and Ryan Jeffers broke his hamate bone. And yet, all that wasn’t enough. This afternoon, word got out that Emmanuel Rodriguez, who has been shelved since May 1, will now be out much longer, after it was revealed that his injured thumb requires surgery.
Thumb surgery for Emmanuel Rodriguez, who after swelling subsided an additional MRI showed a UCL ligament tear in his finger. #MNTwins
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) May 19, 2026
There are two things both incredibly true to Emmanuel Rodriguez. The Minnesota Twins prospect is exceptionally talented, and he’s also exceptionally injury prone. Thumb injuries have been a problem for him previously, and now he’s going under the knife to fix this one.
Rodriguez injury hurts him and Twins
Last season, Rodriguez played just 65 games because he suffered injuries to his thumb, oblique, and hip. The thumb injury, in his left hand — which is the same hand he hurt sliding into first base earlier this month.
That’s not to be confused with the right thumb injury that required surgery in 2024, a season in which Rodriguez saw the field for just 47 games.
The most games Emmanuel Rodriguez has played through the course of a professional season was 99 games for Cedar Rapids back in 2023. How long Rodriguez is shelved this time around will be determined after surgery.
It’s unfortunate for both Rodriguez — who owns a .923 OPS this season in 25 games for the St. Paul Saints this season — and the MN Twins, who could use his bat in an outfield that just saw Matt Wallner demoted last week and a roster that continues to lose its best talent to the injured list.
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