Taj Bradley has stood out so far in 2026, posting a 2.77 ERA through nine starts.
When Taj Bradley was working his way through the ranks of the Tampa Bay Rays' farm system, many had expectations that he would blossom into yet another product of Rays’ pitching talent.
Instead, some struggles overshadowed the potential in two and a half seasons in Tampa Bay. The same followed when he was traded to the Minnesota Twins at the 2025 trade deadline, as Bradley posted an ERA of 6.61 in six starts for the Twins that season.
But in 2026, the once highly-touted prospect is presumably reaching that form that was once anticipated of him. In nine starts this season, the 25-year-old has produced a 2.77 ERA in 52 innings of work, cementing himself as an anchor in the Twins’ rotation throughout the first two months of the season.
He has already overcome adversity in facing an injury, as right pectoralis muscle inflammation held him out for two weeks in the midst of May. In his return from the injured list on May 23, he delivered five strong innings and topped out at 100.3 MPH with his fastball, the fastest recorded pitch by a starting pitcher in Twins history.
Bradley did not skip a beat upon his return, giving the Twins what they needed in what turned out to be a series sweep of the Boston Red Sox. Ultimately, he seamlessly did what he has done best this year, which is gather whiffs with increased velocity.
The righty relies on his fastball most, tossing it 47% percent of the time this season (via Statcast). The four-seam has been his most reliable due to the run value it holds, which ranks among the 93rd percentile in the league. With his velocity uptick, especially notable following his injury, his fastball uniquely sets up an at bat in boasting a spin rate nearly the same of his curveball.
His four-seamer ranks last in put-away percentage among the four pitches Bradley throws. While throwing it the least, Bradley has garnered most of his punchouts by way of the curveball, one that is complimented by strong secondaries that have advanced this season.
This year, he dismissed a sinker that never flourished for him. He has adjusted his ways in tossing his unique split-changeup more frequently, becoming more of a second option alongside his cutter. The results are evidently beneficial in his tune-ups this season.
With these adjustments, Bradley has seen himself become more of a strikeout pitcher. He owns a strikeout to walk percentage of 18.4%, all while yielding an opponent batting average of .216, his best tally throughout his four seasons. He has been a workhorse in limiting damage as well, a facet he has struggled with in the past, as he has posted a HR/9 of 0.87 and a left on base percentage of 83.9%, both of which would be personal-best tallies.
Bradley’s success has been huge for Derek Shelton’s Twins, pairing alongside Joe Ryan as a very solid 1-2 starting pitching punch. He is aligned to make his second start since returning from the injured list on Thursday, aiming for another strong start in the Twins’ series finale against the Chicago White Sox.
