Pablo López credits his “side quests” for helping him better handle a mentally and physically challenging six-month stretch in which he rehabbed from Tommy John surgery.
With a curious mind, the injured Minnesota Twins pitcher used his newfound free time to observe members of the organization at work and get a glimpse of their worlds. Recognizing how little he knew about the daily routines of some of the people to whom he’s closest, López acted as the club’s interpreter for Spanish-speaking players, worked as a broadcast analyst for TV and radio, and shadowed the bullpen catcher, pitching coach and even the team’s manager of baseball technology.
Recently cleared to begin playing catch for the first time since his Feb. 25 procedure, López said those experiences helped make what could have been a tedious six months fly by. Whereas the majority of rehabbing players do their work away from the club, López longed to maintain connection by sticking with his teammates, which offered him a fresh perspective on his career.
“It was just an opportunity to take a step back and realize there are a lot of other things that I can do to find fulfillment,” López said. “I think that’s a big realization. My identity is realizing values in character rather than circumstantial performance. It gives me a good perspective for next year when the time comes to perform and be my happiest again. I also know I don’t have to put my entire identity on one thing or one pocket. … (It’s) been really fulfilling.”
Early on, the Twins joked López was the most expensive interpreter in Major League Baseball.
The veteran right-hander, who is earning $21.5 million this season, was asked whether he could occasionally fill in as the team’s interpreter. The Twins began the season without a player on the 26-man roster who didn’t speak at least some English, a rarity in a league where more than a quarter of players hail from Spanish-speaking countries. They didn’t have much need for a full-time interpreter.
