This Twins pitcher could make the All-Star team if he continues pitching at a high level.
The Minnesota Twins have had an up and down start to the new season, but they have one starting pitcher who looks like an All-Star at the moment. It is worth noting that ace Joe Ryan has not been bad on the mound. With that being said, has not exactly dominated hitters. Meanwhile, Taj Bradley is pitching at an especially high level.
Bradley, who previously pitched with the Tampa Bay Rays and joined the Twins in 2025, has recorded a 2.85 ERA in seven starts this season. He leads Minnesota with 44 strikeouts in his 41 innings of work.
Bradley has pitched at the MLB level since 2023. He was unable to find consistency in Tampa Bay, however. He even struggled after initially joining the Twins in 2025. The right-handed pitcher has clearly figured something out this season, though.
Taj Bradley's 2026 Success With Twins
Bradley's strikeout rate of 25.3 percent is right around his 25 percent career average. He is walking batters 8.6 percent of the time, which is his exact mark for his career. In fact, his hard-hit rate against is currently above his career average.
So, what is different for Bradley this year? How has he improved?
His 2.9 percent home run rate would be a career-best mark if the season ended today. He is also holding hitters to a career-best .226 batting average. Meanwhile, Bradley's 31.9 percent ground ball rate is well below his career average mark.
Bradley's fastball run value ranks in the 91st percentile while his offspeed run value is in the 90th percentile.
In all reality, it seems as if Bradley is not doing too much differently on the mound in 2026. He has always featured a high ceiling, and now things are beginning to work for him.
His ability to mix in his offspeed pitches with his fastball keeps hitters off balance. He throws his four-seam fastball 45.6 percent of the team. Bradley throws his splitter 23 percent of the time and cutter 20.8 percent of the time. Additionally, he also has a curveball that he uses 10.6 percent of the time.
Will Bradley be able to continue to find success?
It would not be surprising. It seems as if he is meeting the expectations that many had for him early in his career.
Taj Bradley looks like an All-Star right now, and he could end up making the team if he continues to pitch at such a high level.