Taj Bradley Chooses Camp Over World Baseball Classic

[Cody Christie]

When the World Baseball Classic rosters were unveiled, it appeared the Minnesota Twins would have a healthy presence on the international stage. Now, that presence may be nonexistent.

Right-hander Taj Bradley has elected to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic, opting to remain in Fort Myers and continue building toward what the organization hopes will be a breakout season. Bradley had been slated to pitch for Mexico, but after conversations with the coaching staff, he decided his focus belonged in Twins camp.

“He just approached me and said that he would like to stay in camp and be with the club,” manager Derek Shelton said. “And I just listened to him because we committed to him playing, and he committed to playing, and let him express himself. And I think the biggest thing was he felt his priority should be in this camp. He stated, new manager, new staff to some extent, new catcher in terms of Victor Caratini, and he just felt that the best use of his workload during Spring Training was going to be to be in our camp. So we supported him in terms of his decision.”

It is hard to argue with that reasoning. The Twins acquired Bradley from the Tampa Bay Rays at last year’s trade deadline in a deal that sent Griffin Jax the other way. Minnesota was buying into upside. Two years ago, Bradley was viewed as one of the most electric young arms in baseball, ranking as a consensus top-50 prospect entering the 2023 season.

His initial run in Minnesota was uneven. Bradley posted a 6.61 ERA in six starts after the trade, struggling at times to command the zone and keep the ball in the yard. Still, there were flashes. The Twins believe there is another level to reach, and with club control through 2029, they are invested in helping him find it.

At just 25 years old, Bradley already has 385 1/3 innings in the majors between the Rays and Twins. That experience matters, especially for a pitcher still working to harness premium stuff. He owns a 4.86 career ERA, largely inflated by a 1.49 HR/9 rate. The underlying numbers paint a more optimistic picture. Bradley carries a 25 K%, an 8.6 BB%, and a 41.1% ground ball rate. His 4.38 FIP suggests he has pitched better than the surface results indicate.

By staying in camp, Bradley can continue building chemistry with Caratini and work closely with a pitching group that has undergone changes. For a pitcher expected to slot in as the third or fourth starter, those relationships and routines could prove more valuable than a handful of high-intensity innings in March.

Minnesota’s Classic outlook has shifted dramatically. Pablo López underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery earlier this week, and Joe Ryan’s availability remains uncertain as he manages lower back inflammation. What once looked like a showcase of the Twins' arms on the global stage now looks like a spring devoted entirely to getting healthy and aligned.

For Bradley, that alignment starts now. If the Twins are going to surprise people in 2026, they will need their rotation to outperform expectations. Choosing camp over Classic may not generate headlines in the same way, but it could pay dividends when the games start to count.

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[David HK]

From the way he got LIT UP by the Red Sox, he made the right decision.

Maybe.