Taj Bradley Bio
Taj Ali Bradley is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). A former member of the Tampa Bay Rays, Bradley was originally drafted in 2018 and reached the majors in 2023. He is also of African-American and Mexican descent and was selected to represent the Mexico national baseball team before later withdrawing.
Early Life and Background
Taj Ali Bradley was born on March 20, 2001. He grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and attended Redan High School, where he developed as a multi-position player. In his formative years on the diamond, Bradley initially played mostly outfield and catcher before his role on the mound took precedence.
As a senior, Bradley was a high school prospect drawing college attention. He initially committed to play college baseball at Hillsborough Community College, then later changed his commitment to the University of South Carolina. That change of plans set the stage for his professional path when he became draft-eligible.
Path to Baseball
Bradley’s path to professional baseball went through the 2018 MLB draft, where the Tampa Bay Rays selected him in the fifth round, 150th overall. He skipped his college commitment and went straight into the Rays’ development system, beginning as a projectable young arm with starter traits.
He made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Rays, working 23 innings. The Rays then moved him to the Princeton Rays of the Appalachian League in 2019, where he went 2-5 with a 3.18 ERA across 11 starts and 12 total appearances, gaining valuable innings before the 2020 minor league season was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taj Bradley Career
Early Career (2018-2020)
Bradley began his pro career in the lower levels of the Rays’ system, learning the rhythm of a full professional schedule. His 2019 season with Princeton showed flashes of strike-throwing ability, even as his record slipped below .500. The canceled 2020 minor league season delayed his development timeline but did not derail it.
Minor League Rise (2021-2022)
Bradley opened 2021 with the Low-A East Charleston RiverDogs and went 9-3 with a 1.76 ERA over 14 starts, earning a promotion to the High-A East Bowling Green Hot Rods. With Bowling Green, he went 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA and 42 strikeouts across 36 1/3 innings over eight starts, cementing his status as a rising prospect.
He started 2022 with the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits and was selected for the 2022 All-Star Futures Game. After the MLB All-Star break, he was promoted to the Triple-A Durham Bulls. On November 15, 2022, the Rays added Bradley to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, signaling that his major league arrival was near.
Tampa Bay Rays (2023-2025)
The Rays optioned Bradley to Triple-A Durham to open 2023 before promoting him to the majors on April 11. He made his MLB debut on April 12, pitching five innings and striking out eight while allowing three runs. His eight strikeouts ranked second in franchise history for a rookie debut, trailing only Wade Davis’s nine. According to Elias Sports Bureau, it was only the second time since 1900 that a team on a winning streak of at least 10 games sent a starting pitcher to the mound for his big league debut.
Across 23 appearances and 21 starts as a rookie, Bradley went 5-8 with a 5.59 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 104 2/3 innings. In 2024, he made 25 starts and went 8-11 with a 4.11 ERA and 154 strikeouts over 138 innings, showing growth in workload and consistency. In 2025, he started 21 games for Tampa Bay, posting a 6-6 record and a 4.61 ERA with 95 strikeouts in 111 1/3 innings before being dealt at the trade deadline.
Minnesota Twins Era (2025-Present)
On July 31, 2025, the Rays traded Bradley to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Griffin Jax. The move gave him a fresh start in a new organization and an opportunity to continue building on his major league track record. As of June 20, 2026, his career MLB line stood at a 25-30 win-loss record, a 4.73 ERA, and 494 strikeouts.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bradley’s most memorable early major league moment came on debut day, when his eight strikeouts placed him second in Rays history for a first start. The same outing made him part of a rare statistical feat tracked by Elias Sports Bureau, underscoring how unusual his call-up circumstances were. He also earned a selection to the 2022 All-Star Futures Game during his rise through the minors.
Taj Bradley Career Wins
Bradley has compiled his major league victories across stints with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Minnesota Twins. His win totals have grown each season as his role expanded from rookie arm to rotation regular. As of the latest verified count, he has 25 career major league wins.
Tampa Bay Rays Highlights
During his time with the Rays, Bradley notched 19 of his career wins, including five as a rookie in 2023 and eight the following year. His 2024 season, with 25 starts, marked his first full year as a mainstay in the rotation. In 2025, he added six more wins before being traded at the deadline.
Minnesota Twins Highlights
Since joining the Twins, Bradley has added to his major league win total, contributing to the 25-30 career record tracked through June 20, 2026. The trade to Minnesota gave him a new clubhouse and a continued starting role.
Taj Bradley Family
Personal Life
Bradley is of African-American and Mexican descent, a heritage he has spoken about in connection with his international career. He was selected to play for the Mexico national baseball team at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but withdrew about a week before the tournament began in order to remain with the Twins during spring training.
2025 Season Performance
Bradley’s 2025 season was split between two organizations. He made 21 starts for the Rays, going 6-6 with a 4.61 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 111 1/3 innings, serving as a reliable middle-of-the-rotation arm through the first half of the year.
His July 31 trade to the Minnesota Twins for Griffin Jax marked a midseason change of scenery. The transition put him in a new clubhouse and a new league schedule, with the Twins counting on his strikeout ability to stabilize their pitching staff down the stretch and into 2026.
Looking ahead, Bradley’s role in Minnesota is built around his swing-and-miss stuff and his growing durability as a starter. Continued development of his secondary pitches and command will be central to his outlook, while his international eligibility keeps the door open for future World Baseball Classic appearances once scheduling allows.
