MN Twins Ace Takes Big Step Towards Return

The Minnesota Twins pitching staff was absolutely decimated at the trade deadline. Five of the eight active bullpen arms were sent packing. That generated an even larger issue for Rocco Baldelli, when trying to get nine innings on the mound each night.

Their ace Pablo Lopez has been out since early June. Chris Paddack now plays for the Tigers. David Festa has been out since July. Simeon Woods Richardson just underwent a surgery because some parasite was trying to eat him from the inside out… but anyway, how’s your summer going?

Pablo Lopez nearing return for Minnesota Twins

The assumption, since Pablo Lopez’ diagnosis back in June, has been an eventual return to the Twins’ rotation this year. And now, with roughly six weeks remaining in the regular season, the 29-year-old is making strides towards doing just that.

According to The Athletic’s Dan Hayes, Lopez is set to throw a couple of innings worth of live batting practice today, marking the sixth time he’s taken the mound during this recovery process so far. It is the first time he’ll face hitters, however. Hayes calls it a “big step”.

Pablo López is throwing two innings of live batting practice on Friday. It'll be his sixth time off the mound, including bullpens, etc. Big step. #MNTwins

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) August 14, 2025

Realistically, Pablo’s runway here is incredibly small. He last pitched on June 3rd, and he’ll need a rehab assignment prior to being activated. Nonetheless, live batting practice is basically the final step before a rehabbing player moves onto game action.

A return to action, even if the Minnesota Twins have no chance at the postseason, would make Pablo Lopez’ offseason program much more straightforward, and give him a barometer of where he’s at physically. Plus, he’s a leader in the clubhouse and it’s difficult to lead from the injured list.

The MN Twins ace will throw at Target Field around 3:10 pm and he’s hopeful his teammates will line up to step into the box against him, as he joked with the Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale on Thursday.

“Hopefully, whoever wants to hit, they go to swing the bat. I don’t want statues up there. I don’t want someone to look like a candle. I want someone to actually swing the bat, so I can get the feedback and see how [pitches] are moving.

The time allows me to squeeze in four or five, maybe six starts. Because time allows, I want to do it. Also, peace of mind. I want to be able to tell myself I was able to come back from this injury and pitch and perform at the level I know I can perform.”

Pablo Lopez – Star Tribune

Rehab assignment could be coming for Pablo Lopez

The St. Paul Saints are back in town next week, and a rehab assignment taking place just across town could make sense for Lopez. He certainly needs a couple of turns to ramp back up into game shape, but there’s probably not enough room for him to have an unrestricted runway into the offseason.

Lopez through six innings in just four of his 11 starts this season. After experiencing such a lengthy absence, and the same injury that cost Joe Ryan his season last year, caution must be exercised.

Related: Yankees Legend Helped MN Twins Beat Former Team

If the Twins can get innings from Lopez down the stretch, that would be a positive reality going into the offseason. It may also help any hope that the Pohlad’s have on further cutting payroll with trades of Lopez and Ryan.

In each of the past three seasons Lopez has made exactly 32 starts. Across 11 this season he owns a career-low 2.82 ERA (3.01 FIP) and 61/14 K/BB across 60 2/3 innings. It’s truly too bad the injury cut short what looked like such a promising start.