The Minnesota Twins might be off to a rocky 1-3 start in the 2026 season, but there are glimmers of hope shining through. Royce Lewis has already flexed his power with a couple of homers, and Joe Ryan's velocity looks promising.
But let’s talk about the real standout: Taj Bradley. In his first start, Bradley was electric, leading the Twins to their lone victory in Baltimore.
Taj Bradley: A Rising Star in the Twins' Rotation
Bradley’s debut this season was all about the heat. He cranked up his fastball to an average of 97.4 mph, a noticeable jump from last year’s 96.2 mph.
And when he hit 99.6 mph, it marked the fastest pitch by a Twins starter since Statcast began tracking. With two previous 100 mph pitches in his career, Bradley might just break that barrier again soon.
Despite being just 25, he’s already got 74 big league starts under his belt, showing maturity beyond his years.
Interestingly, while Bradley’s fastball boasts some of the best velocity in the league, it hasn’t always been his go-to weapon. Last season, his four-seamer had a run value of minus-five, landing in the 20th percentile.
Instead, his breaking pitches have been the real showstoppers. His curveball was nearly unhittable last season, holding opponents to a .082 average and boasting a 37.6% whiff rate.
His split-finger pitch also delivered, though not quite at the curveball's elite level.
Now, if Bradley’s fastball steps up this year, we could be witnessing the beginning of a breakout season. In his first outing, he notched a 30% whiff rate on his four-seamer, a figure that dwarfs the league average of 10%.
For context, Bryan Woo of the Mariners had the top fastball last year with a 29.7% whiff rate. Bradley’s split-finger was also impressive, baffling Orioles hitters and achieving a 63.6% whiff rate.
While sustaining that over a season is a tall order, it’s a promising sign for the Twins.
Bradley’s potential breakout couldn’t come at a better time for Minnesota. Initially slated for a back-end rotation spot, injuries and underperformance thrust him into the number two starter role.
The Twins are banking on his talent, having traded prized reliever Griffin Jax to acquire him. Their initial high asking price for Jax underscores their belief in Bradley’s potential.
While it’s early days, Bradley’s first start has given Twins fans something to cheer about. His uptick in velocity and ability to generate whiffs are encouraging signs. For a team not expected to make waves in 2026, Bradley’s emergence could be a beacon of hope, energizing a young squad with plenty of potential.