The Twins’ Pitching Evolution: A New Era of Velocity
Since Pete Maki stepped into the role of pitching coach for the Minnesota Twins in mid-2022, the team has crafted a unique pitching strategy. The contrast between their starting rotation and bullpen is particularly striking.
From July 2022 onward, the Twins' starters ranked fifth-lowest in MLB for average four-seam fastball velocity at 93.1 MPH. Meanwhile, the bullpen boasted the tenth-highest at 94.8 MPH, largely thanks to the blazing arm of Jhoan Duran.
Duran, with his fiery 100.6 MPH fastball, was a key figure in the bullpen until his departure in July 2025. Post-Duran, the bullpen's velocity dropped significantly, ranking third-lowest at 92.5 MPH. Interestingly, the starting rotation’s velocity saw an uptick, moving to 17th in the league at 93.8 MPH-the highest since 2018.
This shift signals a potential change in the Twins' approach to building their roster. While velocity isn't everything, it’s a critical component of a successful fastball.
Take Bailey Ober, for example; he’s thrived with a fastball barely reaching 90 MPH, thanks to factors like induced vertical break and arm slot. Yet, high velocity remains a key indicator of fastball success.
With the departures of Duran and other high-velocity relievers like Louis Varland, Griffin Jax, and Brock Stewart, the Twins have turned their attention to acquiring young, hard-throwing starters. At last season’s trade deadline, they brought in promising arms like Taj Bradley and Mick Abel, each with a four-seam fastball clocking in at 96.2 MPH.
Both Bradley and Abel's fastballs are turning heads. Bradley, in particular, boasts a 69-grade four-seamer over nine innings this spring, while Abel's stands at a 61-grade over ten innings.
Using the 20-80 scouting scale, these are considered plus pitches, with Bradley’s nearing elite status. Their fastballs combine velocity with impressive induced vertical break and arm-side movement, making them formidable weapons.
Joe Ryan joins this promising rotation, though his fastball is slightly slower at 93.7 MPH. Yet, Ryan’s four-seamer was the tenth most effective in MLB last season, demonstrating that velocity isn't the only measure of a pitch’s effectiveness.
Gone are the days of Twins starters with sub-90 MPH fastballs. Today, the team is embracing a new identity with pitchers like Ryan, Bradley, and Abel leading the charge, and Zebby Matthews fitting the mold as well.
Whether this leads to an above-average rotation in 2026 remains to be seen, but the potential is undeniable. This could be the Twins’ most promising rotation since their 2023 squad, which broke a 19-year playoff drought.
The future looks bright, and Twins fans have every reason to be excited.