Full Breakdown
Twins Place Rising Ace Taj Bradley on Injured List
5/10/2026, 10:09:54 PM
Bradley’s IL Placement Halts Twins’ Rotation Momentum
On Saturday, May 5, 2026, the Minnesota Twins placed right-handed starter Taj Bradley on the injured list because of right pectoral muscle inflammation. The move was retroactive to the previous Wednesday. Bradley had been scheduled to start the series finale against the Cleveland Guardians.
Injury-Riddled Rotation Context
The Twins entered the season with ace Pablo López on the 60-day injured list after Tommy John surgery and have since added right-hander Mick Abel (right elbow inflammation), reliever David Festa (right shoulder impingement), and starter Joe Ryan, whose recent elbow MRI was clean. Bradley’s placement leaves three-fifths of the rotation on the IL.
Bradley’s 2026 Performance Snapshot
In eight starts for Minnesota, Bradley logged 47 innings, struck out 52 batters (1.11 K/9), posted a 2.87 ERA and limited opponents to more than two earned runs only once. His fastball averaged above 96.5 mph, touching 99 mph on several outings, and he has begun using a splitter as a secondary pitch.
Official Response and Roster Moves
The Twins announced Bradley’s IL placement and the promotion of right-hander Travis Adams from Triple-A St. Paul. Team medical staff said the inflammation is being monitored and that a second opinion will guide treatment. Manager Derek Shelton noted that a clean MRI result is a favorable scenario and that the club will decide next steps after specialist consultation. The team scheduled a bullpen game against the Guardians, assigning right-hander Andrew Morris a starting role.
Criticism of the Bradley Trade
The trade that sent Bradley to Minnesota for All-Star reliever Griffin Jax drew criticism because Jax was under contract through 2027. Bradley’s early-season success, highlighted by a 4-1 record, has softened some of that criticism, but his injury revives concerns about the depth of the rotation.
Conflicting Reports on IL Duration
ESPN and The Athletic reported a 15-day IL placement for Bradley, while ClutchPoints described a 10-day stint. No official clarification has been issued, and the team has not disclosed a projected return date.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Any time we get an MRI that comes back clean, that's the best-case scenario,” — Derek Shelton, Twins manager
- “Once we get through the second opinion, we can start a course of action.” — Derek Shelton, Twins manager
- “There is no doubt in anyone’s eyes in this room that (Bradley) was an ace-caliber pitcher,” — Ryan Jeffers, Twins catcher
- “We couldn’t have been more excited to get him over here. It’s not often you get a chance to have a starter that throws 100 (mph) in your rotation. … And we (heard) about this splitter that’s developing. ‘Hey, he’s working on his splitter. That’s going to be the key.’ He comes into spring, and that splitter is a legit weapon.” — Ryan Jeffers, Twins catcher
Outlook for the Twins’ Rotation
The Twins will rely on Travis Adams and Andrew Morris in the upcoming series while monitoring Bradley’s recovery. The club expects to reassess the rotation before the next scheduled start, with the possibility of additional bullpen games or spot starts from minor-league arms if the pectoral inflammation persists.
