Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Twins have yet to make it through February, and they’ve already seen injuries to three starting pitchers. Pablo Lopez is out for the season. Joe Ryan had a simple scare that proved to be nothing more than back inflammation.
Even after Pablo’s injury, though, the MN Twins rotation looks pretty set, outside of one or two spots at the backend. One pitcher who was supposed to be fighting for it is being shut down.
David Festa out for Minnesota Twins
Last fall David Festa finished the season sidelined after being diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Rather than undergo surgery, he settled for botox injections. On Thursday, Dan Hayes (The Athletic) is reporting that this shoulder impingement is unrelated to last year’s injury… but it will sideline Festa for weeks.
Starting pitcher David Festa’s readiness for Opening Day is now in question after he was diagnosed with a right shoulder impingement, the team said Thursday. Festa’s current shoulder issue is unrelated to the thoracic outlet syndrome injury that ended his 2025 season but requires an injection and several weeks of shutdown, Twins athletic trainer Nick Paparesta said.
“It pinches toward the back side,” Festa said of his injury. “I’ve kind of felt it on and off the last week or two. Didn’t really say anything because sometimes when you’re building up, you don’t always feel great. But once my bullpen (this week) wasn’t as good as it probably should’ve been, I spoke up and got an image done. Everything lines up pretty well with what I’m feeling. So I plan to sit out throwing for two to three weeks and then if I feel good, get going again. It’s a setback, obviously. I’m frustrated. But that’s kind of where we’re at.”
David Festa owned a 5.40 ERA (4.88 FIP) last season across 53 1/3 innings. Things got better down in Triple-A, where Festa posted a 2.59 ERA across seven starts for St. Paul.
Sitting out multiple weeks will certainly push back Festa’s build up schedule, and there won’t be runway for him to make the Opening Day roster. That means the final spot in the Minnesota Twins starting rotation is likely down to Zebby Matthews and Mick Abel.
Minnesota Twins Pablo Lopez undergoes internal brace
When Pablo Lopez suffered a UCL tear, the fear was that another standard Tommy John surgery would be on the docket. Dr. Keith Meister found an opportunity to do use tissue from his previous 2014 elbow graft to make an internal brace around his UCL that should help him recover faster.
On the other hand, the Twins were pleased to learn Wednesday that López’s surgery to repair a “significant” tear in the ulnar collateral ligament of his right elbow was less invasive than a standard Tommy John surgery. Dr. Keith Meister was able to use an elbow graft from López’s 2014 TJ surgery to add an internal brace. The development should reduce the length of time required for the pitcher to return to action. Although López was ruled out from pitching in 2026, the Twins are now optimistic about his chances of returning closer to the beginning of next season.
López will undergo an MRI in about five months, at which point the team will be able to more accurately assess when he may return to pitching.
“This is the better of the two surgeries,” Paparesta said. “We’re pretty excited about that. Pablo is excited about that as well.”
Lopez will still be on the shelf for at least 12 and miss the entire 2026 season. However, his return in 2027 is now much more likely. Of course, that’s if there is a 2027 MLB season
Labor relations between the MLB and MLBPA are not in a good place. If talks do not improve and games are missed next season, Lopez’s four-year contract could come to an end without playing another game for the Minnesota Twins.
Mentioned in this article: David Festa Pablo Lopez
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