Twins GM Jeremy Zoll: Byron Buxton “feeling great, no issues,” and other injury timelines heading into 2027

Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll said outfielder Byron Buxton is “feeling great, no issues” following surgery to repair a right hip impingement. Zoll said Buxton has been working toward a normal offseason lower-body routine and is expected to be evaluated again on Dec. 21, with the goal of clearing him for baseball activity thereafter.

Minnesota’s GM also addressed a more sudden development for the position-player group, saying left fielder Trevor Larnach will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left wrist on Friday. Zoll indicated the Twins do not expect the procedure to affect Spring Training or the regular season readiness timeline.

For the pitching side, Zoll said right-hander Pablo López will begin throwing off a mound next week after completing the later stages of his flat-ground and long-toss progression following Tommy John elbow reconstructive surgery. He also said López’s rehab remains on the same trajectory and is expected to position him for the beginning of the 2027 season.

Zoll reported that center fielder Walker Jenkins is “doing well” about six weeks after arthroscopic right-elbow surgery aimed at addressing recurring discomfort, and that Jenkins should be a full go when Spring Training starts.

Reliever Jeff Hoffman remains early in recovery after right-elbow surgery, about two weeks out, but Zoll said he is tracking well toward Spring Training; Hoffman is expected to begin throwing off a mound in mid-January. Right-hander Zebby Matthews, following a PRP injection for an elbow strain, was described as progressing well with a throwing start in the next week or two, while right-hander Cole Sands, who had late-year surgery, was said to have “no complications” and should be able to complete a full offseason program without limitations.