David Festa And Mick Abel Likely Out For Rest Of 2026 Season

[Cory Moen]

Twins GM Jeremy Zoll reported that Mick Abel and David Festa are both unlikely to pitch this year.

Abel had arthroscopic elbow surgery on July 1. He looked good before going on the injured list. In his two starts before going on the injured list, he threw 13 innings, giving up zero runs and recording 16 strikeouts with just three walks. The hope when he went on the injured list was that he would be back later in the summer, but after surgery, it looks unlikely he will pitch again in 2026.

Unfortunately for Festa, he has been on the injured list all year after dealing with a shoulder impingement in Spring Training. He was starting to work back, and in unfortunate circumstances, symptoms resurfaced, which put his rehab on pause. 

Zoll stated that Festa may be dealing with thoracic outlet syndrome, but the team would know more once he visits a specialist. Festa dealt with thoracic outlet syndrome in September of last season, so the hope is that this isn't a recurring issue but something else. 

With this news, the Twins rotation loses potential depth options, and maybe this leads to the Twins adding a starter if they do decide to buy at the trade deadline in a few weeks. 

View full rumor

[DJL44]

This could be career ending for Festa

[Cory Moen]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

This could be career ending for Festa

That is definitely a fear. I was worried about the same thing. I hope it isn't, but it's definitely possible, unfortunately. 

[jmlease1]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

This could be career ending for Festa

It's not good. This is why I was down on it every time someone started talking about how Festa "had the good kind of TOS". There is no good kind. It's the worst injury a pitcher can have right now. Can't count on him to be a player for the Twins again until he's actually pitching again.

Drat. Good luck to him.

Was hoping Abel might get back before the end of the season, maybe in a bullpen role to finish things out. But I still have high hopes for him and arthroscopic is much less scary. That said, any surgery sucks.

[Bangkok Twins Fan]

It seems like any MLB pitcher that can escape the injury jinx is a rare bird nowadays. Sure, injuries happen, but as others have stated, it's unfortunate for Abel and especially a promising young pitcher like Festa to have to undergo serious surgery and end their season prematurely. Hoping for the best for both of them. 

[Jeff K]

Festa is officially gone off the radar...at least for me.  Dang it.