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Twins starter Chirinos sidelined at least a month with elbow injury

Published: 22 Apr. 2026, 18:15

LG Twins starter Yonny Chirinos pitches against the KT Wiz during the clubs' KBO regular-season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on March 28. [YONHAP]

The LG Twins announced Wednesday that starting pitcher Yonny Chirinos will be out for at least a month with an elbow injury.

Prior to a home game Wednesday against the Hanwha Eagles at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb said Chirinos received an injection in his ailing right elbow earlier in the day.

The Venezuelan pitcher was the Twins' Opening Day starter in both 2025 and 2026. He went 13-6 with a 3.31 ERA in 30 starts last season — his first in the KBO — but has struggled to a 6.75 ERA and a 1-2 record in four starts so far this season.

Chirinos showed some signs of improvement lately, holding the opponents to two runs in 10 innings combined over his past two starts.

Youm said the elbow trouble wasn't to blame for Chirinos' early woes, noting the pitcher first complained of pain after a bullpen session Monday.

“He played catch Tuesday and said he didn't think he'd be able to pitch this week,” Youm said of Chirinos, who would have been in line to start Thursday. “At first, we thought about skipping one turn in the rotation and not taking him off the roster. But with an elbow issue like this, we decided there was no point waiting around much longer. We hoped that he would be able to stay healthy for the full season, and now we have to figure out how to manage this situation.”

Chirinos also received an injection in his elbow last summer, though he did so just before the All-Star break and didn't have to miss much time then.

In Chirinos' absence, Youm said the Twins will have a bullpen day Thursday, with reliever Yi Jung-yong, who made 13 starts in 2023, scheduled to open the game.

Youm also said the front office was trying to decide whether to sign a temporary injury replacement for Chirinos or cut him and acquire a new pitcher for the remainder of the season.

KBO teams are allowed to acquire foreign players on short contracts in place of incumbents who are expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks with injuries. This season alone, four of the league's 10 teams — the Eagles, the NC Dinos, the Doosan Bears and the Kiwoom Heroes — have made use of that rule.

“Our front office always moves quickly in situations like this,” Youm said. “I understand we have several options on the table.”

Yonhap