A concerning twinge in Pablo López's elbow has cut short his live batting practice, casting a shadow over his preparation for the upcoming season and the World Baseball Classic.
On Monday, Minnesota Twins' starting pitcher Pablo López was unexpectedly pulled from his live batting practice session at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. Manager Derek Shelton attributed the early end to "a little bit of elbow soreness." López had been throwing on the main field, facing hitters for just over two innings. Interestingly, he was a bit ahead of his usual spring training pace, a move made to accommodate his scheduled participation in the World Baseball Classic for Venezuela.
But here's where it gets a bit worrying... Just two pitches into what would have been his third simulated inning, López experienced the discomfort and decided to halt his throwing. The next step involves imaging to get a clearer picture of the situation. Until those results are back, the full extent of his elbow issue remains unknown.
Shelton elaborated on the decision, stating, "I mean, obviously, it's February 16, and I think he and [pitching coach Pete Maki] had a little bit of a conversation on the second pitch he threw during the third up and felt some soreness. And after he and Pete talked, we decided, out of an abundance of caution, let's get him off, let's get him off the field and make sure he's OK. So, you know, we will have more information. We'll get some imaging on it, just because of how important it is and he is to us."
This situation is particularly noteworthy given López's recent track record. He has been the Opening Day starter for the Twins for the past three seasons. Last year, he posted a solid 5-4 record with a 2.74 ERA over 75 2/3 innings. However, his 2022 season was punctuated by three separate stints on the injured list, dealing with a hamstring issue, a muscle problem in his right shoulder, and a forearm strain. It's worth remembering that prior to these injuries, López had demonstrated remarkable durability, pitching in 32 games in each of the three preceding seasons.
And this is the part most people miss... Shelton also highlighted López's exceptional self-care, remarking, "I don't know if anybody in that room takes care of himself as well as Pablo does, not only during the season, but in the offseason. And the fact that he has awareness of his body, and he and Pete have a strong relationship, and we're able to have a conversation. It was like, OK, let's hold off and take a look here and kind of move on from that."
While the immediate concern is López's elbow, his proactive approach to his health is a positive sign. However, the question remains: could this be a sign of underlying issues, or just a minor hiccup in his spring training? What are your thoughts on pitchers pushing their limits so early in the offseason? Do you agree with the cautious approach taken by the Twins, or do you think López should have continued? Let us know in the comments below!
