Twins pitcher Mick Abel facing elbow surgery after rough season

The Minnesota Twins thought they had dodged serious trouble when pitcher Mick Abel's MRI showed no ligament damage recently. But manager Derek Shelton hinted something was still off, mentioning a need for a second doctor to check Abel's elbow. On Wednesday, that second opinion brought bad news—Ablins will need arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow and is now out for the foreseeable future with no clear return date. The surgery isn't as serious as Tommy John, but recovery will still take months, and with just three months left in the season, Minnesota might have to wait until at least 2025 to see him again. Things were looking up before this setback. Abel had thrown two sharp rehab games for St. Paul’s minor league team and was set to return to the majors last Sunday. But a bullpen session two days earlier left him with pain, putting everything on hold. His injury history is long—starting with elbow swelling in April, then a triceps problem that kept him sidelined longer than planned. Now, this latest issue means surgery, which could end his season early.Abel’s story isn’t just about missed games. He was a key piece in the trade that brought Jhoan Duran to the Phillies last summer, and his breakout season in Minnesota had fans excited. After a wobbly start, he turned things around with 13 shutout innings and 16 strikeouts over two games. But injuries have kept him from building on that momentum. The Twins have already lost Pablo Lopez for the whole year and now face another long recovery with Bailey Ober sidelined. Pitching injuries are piling up fast. Could a different surgery help Abel return faster? Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal made a quick comeback in May after a similar elbow procedure using a less invasive NanoScope technique. That method removed a loose piece of cartilage and had him back in five weeks. The Twins haven’t confirmed if Abel could try the same approach—it depends on what the surgery reveals. Right now, the team is focused on getting him healthy first. Injuries are unpredictable, but Abel’s case highlights how fragile a pitcher’s career can be. He had flashes of dominance but couldn’t stay on the field long enough to show consistency. The Twins now face a tough choice: wait it out or explore other options before 2025. Either way, Abel’s season is likely over.