MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Twins right-hander Mick Abel has been recommended for arthroscopic elbow surgery after a recent setback in his injury recovery.
After an assessment by orthopedic specialist Dr. Keith Meister, the Twins announced Wednesday that Abel will undergo the minor procedure more than two months after he first landed on the injured list. The timetable for Abel's return won't be determined until after the surgery.
The Twins had Abel lined up to rejoin the rotation Sunday, after he made two smooth rehab starts for Triple-A St. Paul. But he reported soreness after his bullpen session Friday and was shut down from throwing.
Abel was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies with minor league catcher Eduardo Tait the day before the trade deadline last season for closer Jhoan Duran.
The 24-year-old had a 3.98 ERA in four appearances this year, throwing 14 consecutive scoreless innings before he was sidelined by elbow inflammation following his start on April 14.
Minnesota's starting pitching has been depleted by injuries. Left-hander Pablo López, an All-Star in 2023, is out for the season following elbow surgery. Right-hander Bailey Ober has been sidelined for the last three weeks with elbow inflammation and won't return until after the All-Star break.
Left-hander Kendry Rojas, who started on Tuesday, was sent to Triple-A before the game Wednesday in the latest round of pitching roster moves made by the Twins.
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FILE - Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Mick Abel (20) delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr,File)
ATLANTA (AP) — Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine came off the bench to help Morocco rally for a 4-2 victory over Haiti on Wednesday and erase the Caribbean nation's hopes of a first ever point at the World Cup.
Morocco, which became the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals four years ago in Qatar, twice came from behind against a team playing on soccer's biggest stage for the first time in 52 years.
Rahimi’s deflected shot in the 78th minute put Morocco ahead 3-2 and Yassine killed off any chance of an upset with a goal in the 89th.
Morocco advanced to the round of 32 in second place behind Brazil in Group C and will next play the runner up in Group F — Netherlands, Japan or Sweden — in Monterrey. The five-time champion Brazilians beat Scotland 3-0 in the other group match.
“At times we lacked humility and paid the price for it," Morocco midfielder Bilal El Khannouss said. "We weren’t fully committed in the duels, we gave them confidence and allowed them to grow into the game and score twice. At halftime, the coach told us we needed to be more aggressive, win the second balls and bring greater intensity to our attacking play.”
Morocco, which won the most recent Africa Cup of Nations, has ambitions to go deep again after making history at the last World Cup. But the team was given a scare by Haiti, which took a surprise lead in the 10th minute with a goal that was more than five decades in the making.
Lenny Jospeh’s back-heeled flick at the near post beat Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and he became his country’s first scorer at a World Cup since Emmanuel Sanon in 1974, which was Haiti’s only other appearance at the tournament.
Morocco pushed for an equalizer and Achraf Hakimi finally got it in the 39th minute. Haiti keeper Johny Placide managed to get a hand to El Khannouss’ deflected cross, but couldn't prevent Hakimi from bundling the ball over the line.
Although Morocco looked to be ready to explode for more goals, it was Haiti that again took the lead four minutes later when Wilson Isidor scored from outside the box with a shot that flew into the top corner.
There was still time for another goal at the end of a thrilling half with Ismael Saibari sweeping Hakimi’s cross past Placide in stoppage time to make it 2-2 at the break.
It was Saibari's third goal of the tournament.
“I am disappointed for the Haitian fans," Haiti coach Sébastien Migné said. "Disappointed, but also, I want to say we managed to show that we were worthy of this qualification. We were in the right place. Now we need to make some improvements and not wait for another 52 years.”
This story has been corrected to show Morocco's next match will be played in Monterrey, not Guadalajara.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
Morocco's Ismael Saibari (11) kicks the ball past Haiti's Ricardo Ade (4) during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Morocco and Haiti in Atlanta, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Haiti's Lenny Joseph (16) celebrates after Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou scored an own goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Morocco and Haiti in Atlanta, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou (1) is unable to stop a shot for goal by Haiti's Wilson Isidor (18) during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Morocco and Haiti in Atlanta, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Morocco's Ismael Saibari (11) reacts after scoring a goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Morocco and Haiti in Atlanta, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Morocco's Soufiane Rahimi (9) celebrates after scoring their third goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Morocco and Haiti in Atlanta, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
