An Altered Arsenal Has Led to Success For Travis Adams in 2026

[Cody Schoenmann]

Making his major league debut on July 5, 2025, Travis Adams struggled in his first cup of coffee in the majors, generating a 7.49 ERA, 5.39 FIP, and a 31-to-17 strikeout to walk ratio over 33 2/3 innings pitched. The then-25-year-old navigated an unpredictable role, jumping between starting games and coming in as a stretch or short reliever on a near-appearance-to-appearance basis. Given his late struggles, Adams failed to solidify a spot on Minnesota’s 26-man roster late last season, meaning the now-26-year-old would need to compete for a spot in the club’s eight-pitcher bullpen this spring training.

 

Unfortunately, Adams pitched only 2 2/3 innings this spring before being sidelined with right elbow inflammation in mid-March. Luckily, the righty’s elbow sustained no structural damage, and he returned to the mound on a rehab assignment at Single-A Fort Myers in mid-April before joining the Triple-A St. Paul Saints later that month. Adams’s surface stats were uninspiring upon his return to St. Paul, netting a 9.00 ERA over six innings pitched. Still, his 2.69 FIP suggested the right-hander had been unlucky over his first handful of appearances to begin his 2026 Triple-A campaign.

 

Due to 40-man roster constraints, Minnesota promoted the struggling Adams to the parent club on May 9 when Taj Bradley was placed on the 15-day IL with right pec muscle inflammation. The former mid-level prospect made two appearances for the Twins over a four-day stretch, earning a 7.36 ERA over 3 2/3 innings pitched. Again, however, his underlying metrics suggested he was pitching better than his counting stats. Over that exceptionally small sample, Adams netted a 2.01 FIP and 25% strikeout rate, suggesting he had again been the victim of poor luck. Still, Minnesota demoted him on May 14 to make room for starting pitcher Zebby Matthews on the 26-man roster.

 

Interestingly, Twins decision-makers were quick to provide him another opportunity, recalling him five days later after designating veteran right-handed reliever Justin Topa for assignment (he technically replaced Ryan Jeffers, who was placed on the 10-day IL, but still—he took Topa’s spot in the bullpen). In two appearances since May 19, Adams has been unhittable over 13 batters faced, manufacturing a 0.00 ERA, 1.85 ERA, and 30.8% strikeout rate. The righty has generated these results over two separate two-inning appearances against the Houston Astros on May 19 and the Boston Red Sox on May 22. Adams particularly played an integral role in Minnesota’s 8-to-6 comeback win against Boston on May 22, which was arguably their most impressive win of the season.

 

Again, I am analyzing a very small sample. Still, it appears that Adams has made meaningful strides toward becoming an effective short reliever in a bullpen desperate for servicable internal options. Adams’s early-season success appears to be the product of an altered arsenal, highlighted by a shift in his change and cutter usage. In 2025, the righty used his change only 17% of the time. Interestingly, he has raised his usage rate to 30% this season. The pitch has an average movement profile. However, he is using it more effectively, almost exclusively throwing it low in the zone to left-handed hitters. Utilizing both arm- and glove-side movement, the pitch has posted a .104 expected batting average against (xBA) and a .108 expected slugging average against (xSLG), showcasing its effectiveness against left-handed hitters.

His cutter has also made strides, with Adams using it 22% of the time this season, up from 19% in 2025. Thrown evenly between left- and right-handed hitters, his cutter sports plus glove side movement. Attacking hitters high in the zone, his cutter has netted a similarly impressive .166 xBA and .185 xSLG in 2026. The 26-year-old is also throwing his sinker and slider less than he did in 2025, signaling he is prioritizing his cutter and change as his primary secondary pitches. Adams’s fastball still needs work, evidenced by the pitch sporting a below-average movement profile and average velocity. Yet, with him seemingly turning a corner with his auxiliary pitches, it appears that Adams has refined his arsenal against both left- and right-handed hitters this season, signaling he could remain effective and finally solidify a long-term role in Minnesota’s bullpen.

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[DJL44]

Let’s see how he does when batters start looking for the change