FORT MYERS, Fla. — In the wake of devastating news for starter Pablo López, who has an elbow injury that seems likely to require season-ending Tommy John surgery, the phrase “next man up,” has been continuously thrown around in the Twins’ clubhouse.
The Twins believed that their rotation depth was a strength this seaosn, and now they’ll have to tap into it earlier than expected. As it sits now, with López out of the picture, the Twins have seven starting pitchers in the mix for five rotation spots, with some spots solidified and some up for grabs.
With Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley headed off to compete in the World Baseball Classic next month, the Twins should get an extended look at some of their rotation options. Here’s a look at that group.
Joe Ryan
Ryan established himself as an all-star starter last season, and with López out, he is at the top of the Twins’ rotation. The 29-year-old made 30 starts last year for the first time in his career, threw a career-high 171 innings and finished with a 3.42 earned-run average.
“If I can provide some guidance and some help for guys that need it, absolutely, I’m always going to be there,” Ryan said.
Bailey Ober
Ober is looking forward to this season after a difficult 2025 campaign marred by a hip issue that eventually forced a monthlong stint on the injured list.
He finished the season with a 5.10 ERA. He allowed 30 home runs, 14 in June alone. It was a far cry from the results the Twins have come to expect out of the right-hander, who has been among their most consistent in previous years.
Taj Bradley
The Twins acquired Bradley from the Rays in the trade deadline deal that sent Griffin Jax to Tampa Bay, and they let him briefly acclimate to the organization at Triple-A before calling him up.
Aside from Ryan and Ober, Bradley has the most big league experience of the younger group, spending much of the past three seasons pitching at the major league level. He made six starts with the Twins in August and September to mixed results, but the early returns in camp have been promising.
“(There) were so many things Taj did well (Monday),” manager Derek Shelton said earlier this week. “His stuff looked really good, first and foremost. Hitters did not get great swings on him.”
Simeon Woods Richardson
Woods Richardson made one major league appearance in 2022 and in 2023 before staking out a claim to a rotation spot in 2024. The starter made 28 starts for the Twins that year and 22 (23 games) last year.
Many of his starts were limited to five innings or fewer last year, but he had a particularly strong finish, posting a 2.33 ERA across 27 innings while turning in a couple of his longest outings. The 25-year-old enters this year out of minor league options.
Zebby Matthews
Matthews, who is slated to start the Twins’ spring training opener on Friday against the Gophers, made 16 starts last season for the Twins, missing time with a shoulder strain. Though he started the season in Triple-A, Matthews spent much of the summer pitching for the Twins.
David Festa
Festa was hampered by shoulder issues throughout 2025, eventually receiving Botox injections late last season to treat a case of thoracic outlet syndrome. He has been throwing bullpen sessions, but his health is still a question mark. Between injuries and stints at Triple-A, Festa last year made 11 appearances in the majors, 10 starts, and posted a 5.40 ERA.
Mick Abel
Abel, 24, was acquired From Philadelphia as part of the return for Jhoan Duran at the last trade deadline. He made 10 major league appearances last year, eight starts, and could be the most likely candidate to begin the season back in Triple-A.
Shelton was raving about what he saw from Abel on Tuesday, citing his “electric stuff,” and the fact that the first pitch out of his hand was a 98 mph sinker to Byron Buxton.
“I’m coming in here and competing for a spot,” Abel said. “Whether I make it or not, I’m just here every day to get better and compete.”
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