Taj Bradley, the 24-year-old right-handed pitcher recently acquired by the Minnesota Twins in a trade involving Griffin Jax, made a strong impression in his debut for the Triple-A St. Paul Saints on Wednesday. Demonstrating his potential for the major leagues, Bradley delivered six solid innings, allowing only one earned run while striking out four batters without issuing a walk.
Detailed Performance Highlights During Debut
In his outing, Bradley threw 73 pitches with 47 of those being strikes, generating eight swings and misses. His four-seam fastball reached a velocity of 97.6 miles per hour, complemented by a diverse mix of cutters, curveballs, and splitters. These elements combined to keep opposing hitters off balance throughout his time on the mound.
“Taj Bradley with a solid showing in his @Twins organizational debut ð6 IP / 5 H / 1 R / 0 BB / 4 KHe topped out at 97.6 MPH on the dayâ½ï¸#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/YdmRZ1rQHA” — Twins Player Development
Development Focus and Future Prospects
While Bradley and fellow Twins prospect Mick Abel, acquired from the Phillies in the Jhoan Duran trade, have shown encouraging signs, both players still have aspects of their games they need to refine before ascending to the major leagues. Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey has emphasized the importance of Bradley continuing to improve his splitter, a pitch that was effective last season but has shown less consistency this year.
Bradley threw 13 splitters during his latest start, indicating the pitch will remain a focal point in his development with the Saints. Neither Bradley nor Abel is expected to be called up to the Twins immediately after their initial outings with St. Paul, as the organization is allowing time for growth and adjustment.
Bradley’s Record and Potential Impact on Twins’ Roster
Throughout four starts in Triple-A during the 2024 season, Bradley has posted an impressive 0.75 ERA over 24 innings, yielding just two earned runs, seven hits, and five walks while striking out 22 batters. Despite his 4.70 career ERA, his performance with the Rays over 354 innings revealed clear major league potential, and the Twins are keen to further hone his skills before bringing him to the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB level.
Bradley’s next scheduled start for the Saints is expected early next week in Omaha, as he continues his progression through the Twins’ system. Meanwhile, Mick Abel is set to pitch at CHS Field in St. Paul later this weekend, marking the latest step for another young arm in the organization.
Looking Ahead for the Minnesota Twins
The strong performances from Taj Bradley and Mick Abel highlight the depth of pitching talent the Twins have added this season through key trades. As both pitchers refine their techniques in Triple-A, Minnesota fans and management will be closely watching when these prospects will be ready to contribute at the major league level. Bradley’s continued focus on his splitter and control will likely determine the timing of his eventual Twins debut in the MLB.