Taj Bradley Is Coming Home and the Rays Better Hope They Don't Get His Best Stuff

Taj Bradley is about to walk into Tropicana Field wearing a different uniform, and it's going to feel strange for everyone involved. The Twins right-hander, once Tampa Bay's prized prospect, faces his former team for the first time since getting dealt to Minnesota last July 31 in a trade that sent reliever Griffin Jax the other way. This Friday night in St. Petersburg, Bradley gets his revenge.

The timing could not be worse for the Rays. Bradley has absolutely exploded in 2026, sitting third in the American League with a 1.63 ERA and striking out 34 batters over 27 2/3 innings. He came into the season 3-0 and just carved up two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal of Detroit on April 7, allowing one run on six hits over 6 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts in a 4-2 Minnesota win. This is a completely different pitcher from the guy who struggled after the trade, going 0-2 with a 6.61 ERA in six starts last year.

From Prospect to Star: The Bradley Redemption Arc

Before he left Tampa Bay, Bradley's time with the Rays was a roller coaster. A fifth-round pick in the 2018 draft, he posted a 19-25 record with a 4.70 ERA over three seasons. There were flashes of brilliance, like his AL Pitcher of the Month performance in July 2024 when he went 3-1 with a 1.45 ERA in five starts. But consistency eluded him. He finished 2025 at 6-6 with a 4.61 ERA in 21 starts before Minnesota took a shot on him.

Bradley is keeping it real about facing his old buddies. "It will be weird being on the field in a different dugout," he told mlbbro.com. "I'm excited to be pitching in Tropicana Field for the first time in a year. I get to face teammates of mine and friends. I'll just have fun with it."

The Rays Are Limping Into This One

Minnesota is coming in cold, having lost six of its last seven games, including a brutal 10-8 loss to the Mets on Thursday when Bo Bichette answered Ryan Jeffers' grand slam with a three-run double in the eighth. The Rays, meanwhile, snapped a three-game skid with a 6-1 win over Cincinnati on Wednesday. Yandy Diaz is raking at .340, second in the majors, and has to be a concern for a Twins lineup that needs to wake up fast.

The Rays will counter with Drew Rasmussen (1-0, 2.75 ERA), who is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA against Minnesota. But Rays manager Kevin Cash knows what's coming. "Taj is a really talented pitcher," Cash told the Tampa Bay Times. "When he's on he is very tough and very talented, can create a lot of strikeouts." The Rays have dropped three of their last four games. First pitch is Friday night in St. Pete.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.