Pablo López Takes First Throwing Step in Long Road Back

For most players, playing catch is about as routine as it gets. For Pablo López, it represented something much bigger.

After spending the first several months of the season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, López finally picked up a baseball and started throwing again Friday at Petco Park. It was a small session, with the Twins right-hander working from approximately 30 to 45 feet.

But after everything López has been through, it was a significant moment.

“It felt good, and what a place to do it, San Diego is perfect,” López said. “It was nerve wracking. I felt like I was warming up to throw a postseason game, because they let me do my normal pre-throw routine, which I had to figure out on the spot. I was trying to remember. So I went through some muscle memory, transitioned from one station to the other. But once I got out there, I was able to just feel the arm path. From such a short distance, 30-45 feet, there’s not going to be a lot of air under the ball. It’s really just getting into a good rhythm, feeling your tempo.”

That first throwing session came after López received clearance from Dr. Keith Meister, who performed the right-hander’s second Tommy John surgery on February 25. Meister met with López in Texas earlier this month and gave him the green light to begin the throwing program he had been waiting to start.

López's last throw before Friday came on February 16, when he was attempting to work through his first live batting-practice session of spring training. That session was cut short by right elbow soreness, leading to an MRI that revealed significant damage to his ulnar collateral ligament. After seeking a second opinion from Meister, López underwent surgery later that month.

Now, the process of working his way back has finally entered a new phase.

“It’s not a small step,” said Twins manager Derek Shelton. “It is a large step because his arm was moving forward and there was a baseball that came out of it. I mean, even though it was 30 feet and 45 feet, I think it was very encouraging. He left with a smile.”

Shelton wasn't the only one smiling. López described the session as nerve-wracking, which is understandable considering the circumstances. But once he got through the initial routine and began throwing, the focus shifted toward finding his rhythm and trusting his arm again.

The next part of the rehab will involve gradually increasing both the distance and volume of López's throwing. Exactly when he moves to each stage will depend on how his arm responds and what Meister sees during future evaluations.

López said he has a general idea of what the next steps could look like, but there is still plenty of uncertainty. His body will ultimately dictate the pace. That's particularly important given the history involved. This is the second Tommy John surgery of López's career. He previously underwent the procedure in 2014 while in the Seattle Mariners organization.

The Twins acquired López from the Miami Marlins before the 2023 season for Luis Arraez, and he quickly became an important part at the top of the rotation. His return won't come soon enough for Minnesota, but the organization has been clear that there is no reason to rush the process.

The goal is to have López healthy and ready to contribute in 2027. Friday didn't guarantee that outcome. It wasn't supposed to. It was simply the first throw. But after months of waiting, wondering and rehabbing, that first throw represented something López and the Twins hadn't seen since February: progress.

And sometimes, after Tommy John surgery, progress is worth celebrating.