MINNESOTA -- The Twins placed right-hander Pablo López on the 15-day injured list on Saturday with what the club is calling a “mild mid-forearm strain.” The move will end his season, since there are only nine days left in the campaign.
While López will not pitch again in 2025, there does seem to be some relief following his formal examination on Saturday morning. There is not currently any concern regarding a possible elbow or ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury. If the season were not coming to an end, it is possible that López would have simply skipped a start rather than going on the injured list. But with the compressed timeline, the decision was made to shelve him.
López, the Twins’ Opening Day starter, finishes the year with a 5-4 record in 14 starts, and a 2.74 ERA over 75 2/3 innings. He missed three months due to a muscle strain in the back of his right shoulder, then made only three starts upon his return before suffering the forearm strain.
The injury occurred in the third inning of the Twins’ loss Friday night, when López made a diving play on a ground ball that had hit him in the leg. He landed awkwardly on his arm, and though he felt no discomfort at first, his arm tightened up as he continued pitching. He was pulled after four innings.
It’s been a mixed season for Abel, who was acquired from the Phillies in the Jhoan Duran trade. He’s been dominant at Triple-A but consistently searched to find his footing at the Major League level. Abel was charged with 12 runs in four innings over two previous appearances with Minnesota after posting a 5.04 ERA in six starts with the Phillies.
In five starts with St. Paul, Abel sports a 1.85 ERA and has fanned 33 batters in 24 1/3 innings.