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

[Cody Schoenmann]

Image courtesy of © Eric Canha-Imagn Images

After making his major-league debut on Jul. 5, 2025, Travis Adams struggled in his first cup of coffee in the majors, generating a 7.49 ERA, a 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 an 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. Upon his return to St. Paul, Adams’s surface stats were uninspiring, including a 9.00 ERA over six innings pitched. Still, his 2.69 FIP suggested the right-hander had been unlucky, and that maybe something new was happening.

 

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. (Technically, he replaced Ryan Jeffers, who was placed on the 10-day IL, but he took Topa’s spot in the bullpen.) In two appearances since May 19, Adams has been unhittable over 14 batters faced, posting a 0.00 ERA, 1.85 FIP, 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 8-6 comeback win against Boston, which was arguably their most impressive win of the season. He then earned his first career save against the Red Sox on Sunday. 

 

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 serviceable 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 changeup only 17% of the time. He's raised his usage rate to 30% this season. The pitch has an average movement profile. However, he's using it more effectively, almost exclusively throwing it low in the zone to left-handed hitters. It's posted a .104 expected batting average against (xBA) and a .108 expected slugging average against (xSLG), showcasing its effectiveness against lefties.

His cutter has also made strides, with Adams using it 22% of the time this season, up from 19% in 2025. It's a truer cutter this season than last, with more backspin and less blending with his slider. Attacking hitters high in the zone, the pitch has netted a similarly impressive .166 xBA and .185 xSLG in 2026. The cutter and change have gotten more exercise, while he's all but shelved his curveball and sinker.

Adams’s fastball still needs work; it has below-average velocity and an unimpressive movement profile. Yet, it appears that Adams has refined his arsenal against both left- and right-handed hitters this season. As improbable as it would have sounded even a few weeks ago, 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 

[Linus]

Yea get back to me in a couple months. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Agreed, quick to judge, but encouraging start

[jmlease1]

I'd rather ride with Travis Adams in the bullpen than guys like Luis Garcia or even Justin Topa. Let's find out what we have with some of these younger guys who might be part of the future.

Maybe it doesn't happen for Adams and he ends up just being a marginal guy, but let's see what happens when he pares down the repertoire, works on refining those pitches, and maybe gets a tick more velo from throwing 1-2 innings instead of trying to pace for 5+ 

There's some possibilities here.

[DocBauer]

I really have no clue if Adams has a future in the Twins pen or not. But how many times previously have we seen a failed starter, even some who weren't top prospects, change their repertoire and sequencing with a pen transition and look like a completely different arm?

Did anyone really see Jax having the kind of success he did?

I'm just glad to finally see some young arms get their shot to see if there's something there for now, and the future.

Over the next couple of months we will, hopefully, see Klein and a healthy Lewis and Festa get their opportunity. But right now, it's Adams' time.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

4 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I really have no clue if Adams has a future in the Twins pen or not. But how many times previously have we seen a failed starter, even some who weren't top prospects, change their repertoire and sequencing with a pen transition and look like a completely different arm?

Did anyone really see Jax having the kind of success he did?

I'm just glad to finally see some young arms get their shot to see if there's something there for now, and the future.

Over the next couple of months we will, hopefully, see Klein and a healthy Lewis and Festa get their opportunity. But right now, it's Adams' time.

100% agreed the most disappointing part about 2025 is that we didn’t see last August and September as development time for post-hype starters converting to relievers.

[Dman]

I hope this is a new and improved Adams, but if we are into small samples his ERA was 9.00 at AAA in a 7 inning sample.  Granted maybe working on stuff there, but even last year he gave up 39 hits in 33 innings with an ERA of 7.  I like Adams and maybe he turns a corner using his fastball less, but his previous history doesn't give me a ton of confidence..