Taj Bradley Throws the First Recorded Immaculate Inning in Twins History
Taj Bradley has produced a piece of Minnesota Twins history: three strikeouts on nine pitches, the first recorded immaculate inning in franchise history.
What happened
An immaculate inning requires a pitcher to throw nine consecutive strikes and retire all three hitters by strikeout. There is no room for a waste pitch, a foul beyond strike two or a ball outside the zone. Bradley accomplished it by combining conviction with precise execution, moving through the inning before hitters could adjust. Although immaculate innings have become more common in the modern power-pitching era, the feat remains extraordinarily difficult.
Why it matters
The inning is memorable on its own, but it also highlights what Bradley can look like when his delivery, command and pitch shapes align. For Minnesota, that ceiling matters beyond a single record. A pitcher who can miss bats efficiently gives the defense a rest and reduces the number of unpredictable events in an inning.
What to watch next
The challenge is translating nine perfect pitches into consistent starts. Watch Bradley’s strike percentage, his ability to get ahead without becoming too predictable and how he responds when hitters survive the first two strikes. The historic inning will remain in the record book; his broader value will come from repeating its underlying command.
Source: MLB.com immaculate-inning history.
