Twins Reinstate Pablo Lopez, Returns from 60-Day Shoulder IL

After more than three months on the sidelines, Minnesota Twins pitcher Pablo López finally returned to the mound Friday night, starting against the Kansas City Royals. He’d been out since June with a shoulder injury, so his reappearance gave Twins fans a rare jolt of optimism in a season that’s been, well, rough.

His comeback isn’t just a player returning from injury. It might be a turning point for a pitching staff that’s searched for answers since he left.

Pablo López’s Road Back from Injury

López landed on the 60-day injured list after straining the teres major muscle in his throwing shoulder. That’s a tricky injury for pitchers—never a good sign.

His last big league outing was June 3. He left a gap in the rotation that the Twins just couldn’t quite fill.

Before the injury, López was easily the team’s most reliable starter. In 11 starts, he owned a 5-3 record with a sharp 2.82 ERA, and hitters only managed a .225 batting average against him.

He limited damage and worked deep into games, making him a crucial piece early in the season.

Rehab Stint with Triple-A St. Paul

To get ready, López made three starts for Triple-A St. Paul. He posted a 3.18 ERA over 11 1/3 innings there.

More importantly, his shoulder held up and he ramped up his pitch count just fine. The Twins watched him throw in the minors and, after seeing no setbacks, gave him the green light for a big-league start.

The Twins’ Struggles Without Their Ace

When López went down, the Twins were still in the hunt in their division. Things went south fast after that, though.

The rotation lost its anchor, and the bullpen started to wear down. It just wasn’t the same team without him every fifth day.

At the trade deadline, Minnesota’s front office made a tough call. They moved 10 players off the major league roster, pretty much waving the white flag and shifting toward a rebuild.

Injuries and trades left the pitching staff exposed. The lack of depth really showed.

A Spark in a Difficult Season

Even with the bleak outlook, López’s return feels like a rare bright spot. As a 2023 All-Star, he brings talent and a steady presence to a clubhouse that’s been through a lot.

The younger pitchers could use his leadership. Having a veteran like López around again just matters, you know?

Why López’s Return Matters for the Twins’ Future

The Twins probably aren’t making the playoffs, but these last few weeks still matter. Getting López healthy and back on a regular schedule is huge for building momentum for 2025.

He’s proven he can shut down lineups, so Minnesota can start to rebuild around him. That’s a big deal for this team.

• Rotation Stability: López gives the Twins a true front-end starter to build around.
• Mentorship: Young arms in the system can learn a lot from his experience.
• Fan Morale: After a brutal stretch, seeing López back gives fans something to root for.
• Long-Term Planning: How he looks after the injury will help the front office figure out what to do this offseason.

Looking Ahead

This season’s been full of tough choices and hard luck for the Twins. Still, there’s a little spark of hope to hang onto.

Pablo López is back. Sure, his return probably won’t turn 2024 around in the standings, but maybe it gives the front office something to build on for the next run.

For now, Minnesota fans get to watch their All-Star take the mound again. There’s something satisfying about seeing him out there, just doing his thing.

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