The Minnesota Twins have a top-heavy roster, and one of the players at the top is out for the season. Right-handed pitcher Pablo Lopez, who had a 2.74 ERA over 14 starts last season, will miss the 2026 campaign with a torn UCL.
That leaves fellow starting pitcher Joe Ryan and outfielder Byron Buxton as the team’s only healthy above-average players as Opening Day approaches. To compete in the AL Central, Minnesota will need young players like third baseman Royce Lewis to have breakout seasons. The club selected the 26-year-old first overall in the 2017 MLB Draft, but he’s never played more than 106 games in a season due to injury.
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On the pitching side, the Twins could use a quality season from right-hander Mick Abel. They acquired the 24-year-old from the Philadelphia Phillies in July, and he allowed 13 earned runs over 14 big-league innings with Minnesota last season. However, he has given up just four earned runs over 18 frames this spring.
The team made a roster move on Friday that could help Abel land a starting rotation spot, per The Athletic’s Dan Hayes.
“Twins optioned Zebby Matthews to Triple A,” he reported. “Clears the way for Mick Abel.”
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Matthews was picked in the eighth round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Twins. The 25-year-old logged a 5.56 ERA over 16 starts last season and has allowed seven earned runs over 11 innings this spring.
On the other hand, Abel has given up just four earned runs over 18 frames this spring. The 6-foot-5, 190-pounder allowed two runs over 4.2 innings in Minnesota’s 4-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, with six strikeouts against three hits and two walks.
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Mick Abel On Track to Earn Rotation Spot
Minnesota Twins pitcher Mick Abel (20) Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
(Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
Lopez’s injury and Matthews’ move to the minors open space for Abel to secure a spot in Minnesota’s starting rotation. He’s currently listed as its fifth starter behind ace Joe Ryan and right-handers Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson, and Taj Bradley, per ESPN. All four of them are veterans, so the Twins are banking on Abel continuing his spring momentum into the regular season.
The Phillies drafted Abel in the first round in 2020. He made his MLB debut in May before they flipped him for catching prospect Eduardo Tait and pitcher Jhoan Duran near the trade deadline.
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Up next for the Twins after they finish Friday’s contest with the Blue Jays is a matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.
Related: Twins’ Joe Ryan Makes Admission After Encouraging Injury Update
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.