Pablo López Is Teaching Minnesota Twins Fans To Love Again

Pablo López has become as likable as the guy he was traded for. 

Sure, nobody will hold the same space in the hearts of countless Minnesota dads as the spectacular Luis Arráez, but the Twins’ ace has done everything that he can on and off the field to win those same hearts and minds. It’s no easy task to take over the same clubhouse stall that once belonged to an elite bat-to-ball guy--a perennial batting champion. It’s particularly painful for fans to remember what they had, given the lineup’s current cold streak. 

Yet, with his solid start on the mound and a new charitable endeavor that he’s starting with the Twins, López is teaching Twins Territory to love again. 

The 28-year-old righty announced earlier this week that he and his wife, Kaylee, are partnering with the Twins to offer special “Pablo Day” ticket packages for every home game that he starts from May through September. Fans who purchase these packages will receive a special Venezuela-themed jersey and a seat in a designated section. The hope would be for this section to emulate the fabled “King’s Court” in Seattle, which once hosted hundreds of rabid Félix Hernández fans for each of his home starts. 

Not only will this promotion create an electric atmosphere in the ballpark, but it benefits three local charities off the field, as well. A portion of each ticket sold for these “Pablo Days” will go toward three charities selected by López himself; Children’s Minnesota, Project Success and Ruff Start Rescue. For López, finding a way to give back to Twins Territory has meant the world. 

“It means a lot to me and a lot to us that they're allowing us to be a part of something big and something unique that's happening,” López said to Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com. “To be a part of this community has always been very special to us. Kaylee's from the Midwest and I met Kaylee playing in the Midwest League, so obviously, the quality of people that belong to Twins Territory means a lot to me.”

López is establishing himself as a standout member of the community, and a cornerstone of the team’s roster. In his two starts this year, he’s put his dynamic repertoire on full display, with an elite chase rate (39.2%) and control (one walk in 12 ⅓ innings pitched). Add that admittedly small sample size to his work in his first year with the Twins last season, and he looks much like the ace that fans have been clamoring for since baseball bloggers were collecting Beanie Babies.
In his young Twins career, López has a 3.61 ERA in 204 ⅓ innings pitched across 34 starts, good for 4.8 Wins Above Replacement, according to FanGraphs.

While that ERA may come across as more good than great to many casual fans, his numbers under the hood are more representative of the caliber of pitcher that he’s been. 
Since the beginning of last season, López has 48 three-pitch strikeouts, which is third-most in baseball, according to Inside Edge. And he has proven to be an uncomfortable at-bat for his opponents, even when they would seemingly have the edge. When behind in the count, López has been able to get his opponents to chase 40% of the time, by far the best in baseball since the start of last season. This is what an ace looks like.

Arráez could do so many things that are crucial to building a winning ballclub, but it’s hard to argue that he could’ve had the same impact that López has given the Twins. He hasn’t just added to the box scores, the standings and the league leaderboards on behalf of his club, but also to their community impact. He's already healed generational wounds, by taking the ball and ending the team's playoff victory drought last fall. He's become a bridge between fans whose angst has crusted over with bitterness in the frustrating years after Johan Santana departed, and a new generation who needs a way out of that shadow of gloom and grump. He doesn't want to merely produce for his club; he wants to add to ballpark experience.

“I think it's going to be truly special if I happen to peek at the stands and I happen to see a lot of people wearing the jersey waiting for a strikeout, waiting for a big out, big moment,” López said. “I think it will definitely add adrenaline and passion to the moment itself.”

Because of this, it’s no wonder the club decided to lock themselves into many more “Pablo Days” over the next four seasons. Fans can get used to rooting for a new fan-favorite. Yes, even you, Minnesota dads.