Pablo López #49

Pablo José López Serra...X: @pablojoselopez...Instagram: @plopezserra...López adopted a rescue dog named Bosco from Ruff Start Rescue during the 2024 season; Bosco’s original name was Pablo, part of the rescue’s Twins-themed puppy litter...López’s mother and father were both doctors; he was accepted into medical school at the age of 16, but opted to pursue his baseball career...López’s father introduced him to baseball...His dad played amateur ball when he was in college in Venezuela...He was also López’s coach, taking him to train/practice and often taking him to watch Winter Ball games...When López reached 14 or 15 years old, his dad asked him if he wanted to pursue a baseball career...His dad told him that if he went that route, he would have to sacrifice a lot and work the hardest he’s ever worked in his life...López did so while also prepping for a college education as a back-up plan...López’s father passed away in 2020...López spoke four languages when he graduated high school: Spanish, English, Italian and Portuguese...His English and Spanish remain fluent, but in the years since graduating he has lost some of his Italian and Portuguese skills...When López is done playing baseball, he wants to go back to school and become a nutritionist...He’s learned a lot about the importance of nutrition and taking care of one’s body during his baseball career and would like to go back to the classroom to get his degree...Twins Hall of Famer and fellow Venezuelan Johan Santana was his childhood hero...Santana threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Joe Mauer prior to Game 3 of the 2023 ALDS vs. Houston as López delivered the ball to Santana...Just before López approached the mound, Santana stopped him and took off his jacket to reveal he was wearing López’s home white Twins number 49 jersey...In 2023, López purchased the fishing vest and pole used in the Twins’ dugout home run celebration, honoring the Land of 10,000 Lakes with the wording “Land of 10,000 Rakes”...In May 2023, López said he wanted to wear the vest if he threw a shutout...When Pablo threw his first career complete-game shutout on July 5, Byron Buxton put the vest on him, right before Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober emptied two coolers over his head...Claims to be very good at Mario Kart and calls it one of his hidden talents...Participated in 2023, ‘24 and ‘25 TwinsFest at Target Field in January...López calls the days he starts “Pablo Day” and his bullpen days between starts “Pablo Day Jr.”...In 2024, he partnered with three local Twin Cities nonprofits (Children’s Minnesota, Project Success and Ruff Start Rescue) on a special Pablo Day ticket package for all of his home starts from May-September...Fans who purchased the package received a ticket to the game and a López-themed jersey that pays homage to his Venezuelan roots...A portion of the proceeds from packages sold benefit each nonprofit...Made several hospital visits during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September 2024...Was a finalist for the 2025 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, finishing in sixth place; the award is given annually to an MLB player that best exhibits the character and integrity of Lou Gehrig, both on and off the field.

2024

Was Twins Opening Day starter for second-consecutive season, making the start on March 28 at Kansas City and allowing one run on four hits in seven innings pitched, with no walks and seven strikeouts in a Twins 4-1 victory...became the 13th different Twins pitcher to start consecutive Opening Days, joining Camilo Pascual (1963-64), Jim Perry (1970-71), Bert Blyleven (1972-76), Dave Goltz (1977-79), Jerry Koosman (1980-81), Frank Viola (1985-86, ‘88-89), Kevin Tapani (1993-94), Brad Radke (1996-97, ‘99-05), Johan Santana (2006-07), Carl Pavano (2011- 12), Ervin Santana (2016-17) and José Berríos (2019-20). A Started the 10,000th game in Twins (1961-present) history on April 28 at Los Angeles-AL, allowing four runs on four hits in five innings pitched, with two walks and eight strikeouts, earning his second win of season and first since Opening Day. A Struck out 10 batters in 6.1 innings pitched on May 8 vs. Seattle, marking his eighth career double-digit strikeout total. A Recorded 800th career strikeout on June 6 at New York-AL, fanning Gleyber Torres in the second inning. A Tied career high and set season high with 14 strikeouts on June 23 at Oakland (6.0 IP)...also pitched 8.0 shutout innings with two hits allowed and one walk during the start, earning the win in a 3-0 Twins victory. A Earned 50th career win in 150th career start on Aug. 12 vs. Kansas City, allowing three runs (2 earned) on six hits in 6.0 innings pitched, with no walks and five strikeouts...20th Venezuelan-born pitcher in baseball history to reach 50 wins and 17th to reach 150 starts. A Posted career-best 23.1-scoreless inning streak from Aug. 18-Sept. 5, 2024...was the longest streak by a Twin since Tyler Duffey in 2019 (24.1 IP from July 28-September 25). A Struck out 10 batters on September 10 vs. Los Angeles-AL (7.0 IP), ninth career double-digit strikeout total. A Went 9-4, 2.91 ERA (105.1 IP, 34 ER) with 23 walks, 111 strikeouts and a .244 opponent batting average in final 17 starts of season from June 23-Sept. 27. A Pitched at least six innings in 18 of 32 starts. A Struck out six-plus in 19 of 32 starts, seven-plus in 15 starts and eight-plus in nine starts. A Held right-handed hitters to a .237 average with a .678 OPS, compared to .267 average with a .734 OPS vs. left-handers. A Set career-highs in wins (15), tied for career-high in starts (32)...finished with 185.1 innings and 198 strikeouts, both second-most of his career. A Led staff in wins (15), innings pitched (185.1), starts (32) and strikeouts (198). A Finished tied for fifth in the AL in starts (32), sixth in strikeouts (198), eighth in innings pitched (185.1). A Ranked in the 90th percentile in baseball in walk percentage (5.3%) and 89th percentile in chase percentage (33.0%). A Opponents hit .208 (55-for-264) against four-seam fastball, .230 (17-for-74) against curveball and .239 (39-for-163) against his sweeper

2023

Acquired by the Twins on Jan. 20, with Minor Leaguers Byron Chourio and Jose Salas, in exchange for Luis Arraez...Pitched for Team Venezuela in World Baseball Classic in March, making one start against Puerto Rico at loanDepot Park in Miami, allowing one run on two hits in 4.2 innings pitched, earning the win...Was Twins Opening Day starter on March 30 at Kansas City, pitching 5.1 shutout innings, with two hits allowed, three walks and eight strikeouts in a Twins 2-0 victory...Became second Venezuelan-born starter for Twins in club history joining Johan Santana (2006 & ‘07)...Became first starter to win Opening Day road start since Brad Radke in 2001...Struck out 10 batters in third start on April 11 vs. Chicago-AL (7.2 IP), the fifth time in career reaching double-digit strikeout totals...Matched 10 strikeouts again on June 24 at Detroit (6.0 IP)...Retired 23-straight batters on April 11 vs. Chicago-AL, third-longest stretch for a Twins starter or reliever during any stretch of a single game, behind Jack Kralick’s 25 (8/26/62 vs. KCA) and Scott Baker’s 24 (8/31/07 vs. KCR)...Signed four-year contract extension through 2027 season on April 21 after starting season 1-1, 1.73 ERA (26.0 IP, 5 ER) with six walks, 33 strikeouts and a 0.81 WHIP in first four starts from March 30-April 16...Pitched first career complete-game shutout on July 5 vs. Kansas City, allowing four hits with no walks, while striking out a then-career high 12 batters...One of four times on season to reach double-digit strikeout totals...Finished first half of season with 138 strikeouts, tied for fourth most in club history Pre-ASG with Johan Santana’s 2006 total and trailing 151 by Bert Blyleven in 1973, 143 by J. Santana in 2005 and 142 by Blyleven in 1974...Named to American League All-Star Team, first of career...Pitched top of ninth inning, inducing a fly ball to Geraldo Perdomo, a single to Juan Soto, struck out Pete Alonso, allowed a single to Nick Castellanos and struck out Elias Díaz...Posted 19.0-scoreless inning streak from Aug. 1-18, second longest for a Twin in 2023 (Griffin Jax - 19.1)...Also won a career-best four-straight starts in that span, going 4-0 with a 0.36 ERA (25.0 IP, 1 ER)...Went 4-1, 2.00 ERA (36.0 IP, 8 ER) with seven walks and 36 strikeouts in six starts in Aug., his lowest ERA in any month (counting March/ April as one) on the season...Tied single-season career-high and earned 10th win of season on Sept. 4 at Cleveland, allowing one run on eight hits in 6.0 innings pitched in a Twins 20-6 victory...Supported with 18 runs, most for a Twins starter since Francisco Liriano (19 - 7/26/10 vs. KC)...Struck out career-high 14 batters on Sept. 10 vs. New York-NL, pitching 8.0 shutout innings with two hits allowed and two walks in a Twins 2-0 defeat...Most strikeouts for a Twin since Francisco Liriano (15 vs. OAK in 2012)...Fourth time in club history for a pitcher to strikeout 14-plus and not issue a walk, joining Johan Santana (2004 and 2007) and Bert Blyleven (1986)...Struck out 200th batter of season on Sept. 10 vs. New York-AL, fanning Francisco Lindor...Became 10th pitcher in club history (since 1961) to reach the 200-strikeout mark, first since José Berríos (202) in 2018...Set new career-high with 11th win on Sept. 23 vs. Los Angeles-AL, allowing three runs on five hits in 6.0 innings pitched, with one walk and seven strikeouts in a Twins 8-6 victory...the win was also the AL Central division title clincher for Minnesota...From June 7 to end of season, went 7-3, 3.03 ERA (92.0 IP, 31 ER) with 18 walks and 108 strikeouts in 15 starts (Twins 10-5)...Pitched 6.0-plus innings in 21 of 32 starts and 7.0-plus in eight starts...Struck out eight-plus batters 14 times in 32 starts...Was supported with three runs-or-less in 22 of 32 starts...Twins went 19-13 in his starts...Held opponents to a .195 batting average with runners in scoring position...Went 6-5, 3.10 ERA (95.2 IP, 33 ER) in 16 road starts, compared to 5-3, 4.21 ERA (98.1 IP, 46 ER) in 16 home starts...Held right-handed hitters to a .205 batting average with a .597 OPS, compared to a .271 average with a .754 OPS vs. left-handed batters...Set career highs in wins (11), innings pitched (194.2), quality starts (20), strikeouts (234), strikeouts-per-9.0 innings pitched (10.9), strikeouts-per-walk (4.9) and tied career-high in starts (32)...Set career-highs in velocity of all pitches, including fastball velo (94.8 mph), offspeed velo (88.4 mph) and breaking ball velo (83.7 mph)...Ranked second in AL in strikeouts (234), trailing only Kevin Gausman (237)...Finished with 234 strikeouts, tied with Dean Chance’s 1968 total for seventh most in club history...234 strikeouts were the most since Johan Santana struck out 235 in 2007...Finished fifth in the AL in innings pitched (194.0) and ninth in all of baseball...Ranked 11th in the AL in ERA (3.66) and opponent batting average (.238)...Tied for third in the AL in quality starts (20) and tied for fifth in baseball...Finished ninth in the AL in WHIP (1.15)...Held opponents to a .173 batting average on sweeper, which he threw 646 times...Posted an xBA of .219 on four-seam fastball, a pitch he threw 1,043 times...Led baseball in expected wOBA (.269), xBA (.213) and xERA (3.00) and ranked second in xSLG (.338)...Ranked in the 98th percentile in baseball in pitching run value (26)...Ranked in the 95th percentile in chase percentage (34.3%)...Ranked in the 94th percentage in xERA (3.00)...Ranked in the 90th percentile in fastball run value (12)...Started Game 1 of ALWCS on Oct. 3 vs. Toronto at Target Field, allowing one run on five hits in 5.2 innings pitched, with two walks and three strikeouts, leading the Twins to a 3-1 victory; the win snapped an 18-game postseason losing streak for the Twins, which was an MLB record...Started Game 2 of the ALDS on Oct. 8 at Minute Maid Park, pitching 7.0 shutout innings with six hits allowed, one walk and seven strikeouts, leading the Twins to a 6-2 victory...Joined Jack Morris (G7 - 1991 WS vs. ATL) and Johan Santana (G1 - 2004 ALDS at NYY) as the only pitchers in Twins history (since 1961) to pitch at least 7.0-plus scoreless innings in a postseason game...Was the Twins winner of the MLBPAA Heart and Hustle Award...Finished seventh in AL Cy Young Award voting with 11 voting points, earning five fourth-place votes and one fifth-place vote...Named Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalist for American League pitcher, joining teammate Sonny Gray and Toronto’s José Berríos (winner)...Recipient of the Mike Augustin “Media Good Guy” Award and Carl R. Pohlad Outstanding Community Service Award...The Mike Augustin award voted on by the Twin Cities chapter of the BBWAA...The Carl R. Pohlad Award voted on by the Twins Community Fund Board of Directors.

2022

Opened season as Marlins’ number two starter behind the season’s eventual NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara...made first start on April 9 at San Francisco, allowing one run on three hits in 5.0 innings pitched...Named the NL Pitcher of the Month for April, going 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 23.1 innings...became the 12th pitcher in Major League Baseball history to allow one run or less in his first four starts of the season while pitching at least 20.0 innings...did not allow more than four hits through his first four starts and pitched at least 5.0 innings in all of those outings...the 0.39 ERA through first four starts marked the lowest in Marlins club history...Pitched 8.0 scoreless innings on May 7 at San Diego to match his career-high, done once before on June 8, 2021 vs. Colorado...Set a career-high with 11 strikeouts on May 13 vs. Milwaukee, which he matched again on July 26 at Cincinnati...Took a no-decision in his final start Oct. 2 at Milwaukee, but tossed 7.0 scoreless innings and allowed just two hits...first outing of 7.0 innings-or-more since July 26 at Cincinnati...Surpassed the 500 career innings pitched mark on Sept. 27 at New York-NL, becoming 16th pitcher in Marlins history to reach 500.0 innings...Pitched 7.0 innings-or-more eight times, going 4-1 in those outings with a 1.58 ERA (57.0 IP, 10 ER)…six of these eight outings came before the All-Star break...Went 6-5 with a 3.00 ERA (93.0 IP, 31 ER) on the road vs. a 4-5 record and 4.55 ERA (87.0 IP, 44 ER) at home...Tied for team-lead in starts (32) and ranked second in innings pitched (180.0), wins (10) and strikeouts (174)…set career-highs in starts, innings pitched, wins and strikeouts...Finished season with 489 career strikeouts, which ranked 11th in Marlins history, trailing Brad Penny (583)…With 10 wins, he and Sandy Alcantara marked the first pair of Marlins starters to win at least 10 games since Dan Straily and José Ure?a in 2017...Made 21 starts in which he pitched 5.0-plus innings and allowed five-or-less hits, tied with Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes for the second-most such starts in the NL, behind Arizona’s Zac Gallen and Los Angeles-NL’s Julio Urías, who each had 23...second-most such starts in club history, behind José Fernández (22) in 2013...Selected to pitch for Team Venezuela in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, marking first career appearance.

2021

Made 20 starts in 2021, falling one short of tying a career-high... Finished the season 5-5 with a 3.07 ERA in 102.2 innings pitched. Struck out 115 batters... Started the final game of the year after missing the second half of the season with right rotator cuff strain... Allowed more than two runs in a game just three times. Held opponents to one run or fewer in 10 of his 20 starts and two runs or fewer in 15 of his 18 starts (including six outings where he did not allow an earned run). Has 21 combined starts, allowing two runs or fewer since the start of 2020... Set a Major League record with nine consecutive strikeouts to start a game on July 11 against Atlanta. Those nine strikeouts were also a career-high... Set a career-high with 8.0 innings pitched against Colorado at loanDepot park on June 8. Allowed five hits and two runs. Struck out 8... In his last 12 starts after May 16, went 5-2 with a 3.07 ERA, striking out 72 batters over 58.2 innings.

2020

Pablo Jose López went 6-4 with a 3.61 ERA in 11 games, all starts in 2020. Struckout 59 in 57.1 innings. Led the Marlins in innings, starts, wins and strikeouts... Started the Marlins first game back after an eight-day quarantine. Worked five scoreless innings allowing two hits and tied a career-high with seven strikeouts in Baltimore on Aug. 4... Set a new career high in strikeouts with eight in 6.0 innings against Atlanta on Aug. 14... After a four-game losing streak and the Marlins magic number sitting at three with four games to play, Lopez sat through an hour and 38-minute rain delay and threw five shutout innings, striking out six against Atlanta in his final start of the regular season on Sept. 24... Won his final three starts of the season from Sept. 14-24. Combined to go 3-0 with a 1.58 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 17.1 innings... One of only five players with INF Jesus Aguilar, INF Brian Anderson, RHP Brandon Kintzler and RHP Brad Boxberger, to spend the entire season on the active roster... Was the first Marlin to make two starts in 2020. Miami became the first team in MLB history to play their first nine games of the season and not have a pitcher make more than one start, (Sandy Alcantara, Caleb Smith, Robert Dugger, Pablo López, Elieser Hernandez, Josh A. Smith, Jordan Yamamoto, Humberto Mejía and Daniel Castano). The previous record of eight was held by the 1904 Philadelphia Phillies, who started 2-5-1 and used eight total pitchers in their first nine games. Miami used 27 pitchers in its first nine and went 7-2... Made one start in the postseason. Pitched Game 2 of the Division Series against Atlanta. Worked five innings allowing three hits and two runs while striking out seven.

2019

Pablo José López made just 21 starts in 2019, missing over two months on the Injured List with a right shoulder strain. He went 5-8 with a 5.09 ERA (111.1 ip/63 er) overall...His 2.19 BB/9 ratio this season was the 13th-lowest in Franchise history (min. 21 GS)...He posted a 3-3 record with a 3.39 ERA (63.2/24), a .229 average against, and 54 strikeouts in 11 starts at Marlins Park, compared to 2-5 with a 7.36 ERA (47.2/39), a .299 average against, and 41 strikeouts in 10 road starts...His ERA at Marlins Park was the 12th-best (min. 11 GS) by a Marlin since the venue opened in 2012...Allowed career highs in hits (10) and runs (10) in an 11-2 loss on May 10 at Citi Field, then bounced back with best outing of his career, also against the Mets, on May 18 at Marlins Park, shutting them out over a career-best 7.0 innings, allowing just one hit and tying his career high with seven strikeouts. He retired 14 straight batters after a lead-off double to start that game...He was just the second pitcher since 1913 to allow 10+ hits and runs in a start and then respond with 7.0+ innings of one or zero hits in his next start, joining Jeff Samardzija in 2015 for the White Sox (10 runs, 11 hits Sept. 14 vs. OAK; 1-hit shutout Sept. 21 at DET). Lopez was the only pitcher since 1906 to accomplish the feat when facing the same opponent in both starts. - Elias Sports Bureau...On June 4 at Milwaukee, he scattered three hits and a walk, with seven strikeouts, across 6.0 shutout innings in a 16-0 victory. It was just the seventh time in Club history that a starter has been in the game for 15+ runs of support (team record is 18)...On September 11 vs. Milwaukee, issued a season-high four walks, snapping a streak of eight straight starts allowing one-or-zero walks. The stretch was tied for the fourth-longest streak by a starter in Club history, behind Ricky Nolasco (13), Dan Straily (9), and Justin Nicolino (9)...In 10 starts with Miami, went 2-4 with a 4.14 ERA (58.2 ip/27 er). In addition, made 12 starts between Double-A Jacksonville and Triple-A New Orleans, combining on 2-3 record, 1.44 ERA (62.1/10), and .196 (46x235) opponent average.

2018

In 10 starts with Miami, went 2-4 with a 4.14 ERA (58.2 ip/27 er). In addition, made 12 starts between Double-A Jacksonville and Triple-A New Orleans, combining on 2-3 record, 1.44 ERA (62.1/10), and .196 (46x235) opponent average...Did not allow more than three runs in any Minor League starts, and limited opponents to two-or-fewer eight times...Finished season on 60-day disabled list (right shoulder strain) ...Began season at Jacksonville, making eight starts with a 1-2 record and 0.62 ERA (43.2/3). Had a 1.6 BB/9.0 rate, while strikeouts per 9.0 was 10.6...Over first four starts with Jumbo Shrimp, allowed just nine hits over 19.0 scoreless innings. Allowed first run of season in fourth inning of May 13 start at Montgomery, ending season-opening scoreless streak at 23.0 innings... Took loss on May 13, allowing just one run on five hits over season-high 7.0 innings. Didn't walk a batter while recording seven strikeouts. Jumbo Shrimp dropped each of his first seven starts despite him allowing a total of just four runs (one earned)... Struck out career-high 10 on May 18 vs. Mobile...Earned first win in following start, May 24 at Mississippi...Earned Southern League All-Star honors, but did not participate in the game due to promotion to Triple-A New Orleans on June 6...Made first career Triple-A appearance on June 6 in a start at Las Vegas. Earned win after holding 51's to three runs (two earned) on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts over 6.0 innings...In four starts with the Baby Cakes, posted 1-1 record and 3.38 ERA (18.2/7)...Made final Triple-A start on June 26 vs. Iowa, tossing just 1.2 innings with one hit allowed and two strikeouts ... Recalled by Miami on June 30 and made Major League debut that night against the Mets. Limited New York to two runs on six hits and a walk (intentional), while striking out five, over 6.0 innings...At the time of promotion, ranked sixth among all full season Minor League pitchers in ERA and WHIP (0.93), and 12th in average against. He led all Marlins farmhands in ERA and ranked fourth in strikeouts (66)... Became 12th starter in Marlins' history to earn a win in Major League debut, first since Chris O'Grady on July 8, 2017 at San Francisco. He was the first right-hander to start and win his debut since Anthony DeSclafani on May 14, 2014 at the Dodgers...The night before his debut, Sandy Alcantara made his first career Major League start and also earned a win. Became first set of teammates to earn wins in their first career starts in consecutive days since April 9-10, 2012, when Yu Darvish and Neftali Feliz each made their first career starts with the Rangers. The last National League team to have such a duo was the Reds on April 15-16, 1967 with Gary Nolan and Mel Queen. - Stats LLC • Recorded first Major League hit on July 10 vs. Milwaukee, a single to left field off Jhoulys Chacín. Appeared as a pinch-hitter twice. In final pinch-hit appearance, on July 15 vs. Philadelphia, he singled, marking Miami's first pinch-hit by a pitcher since a tworun double by José Fernández on July 1, 2016 at Atlanta.

2017

Spent season at Single-A level in Seattle and Miami organizations, making 19 appearances (18 starts) for Modesto Nuts to start season and eight appearances (six starts) for Jupiter Hammerheads following July 20 trade...Set career highs with 8.0 innings pitched and nine strikeouts on July 7 at San Jose, allowing just one run on two hits and picking up final win in Seattle organization...That outing ended a three-game stretch in which he went 2-0, striking out 18 and allowing just four runs over 22.0 innings (1.64 ERA)...Over final five starts for Modesto, went 2-1 with a 2.41 ERA (33.2 ip/9 er)...Made Jupiter debut on July 26 vs. Florida, allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk over 6.0 innings, with six strikeouts...Did not earn a win for Hammerheads, going 0-3, but posted 2.18 ERA (45.1/11)...In first relief outing for Jupiter, on August 12, took over for rehabbing Kyle Barraclough in second inning and tossed 7.0 frames, allowing just one run on five hits, striking out eight.