Minnesota Twins pitcher Taj Bradley threw the first immaculate inning in franchise history during a game against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday [2].
The achievement marks a rare milestone for the organization, as an immaculate inning requires a pitcher to strike out all three batters using only nine pitches [1].
Bradley recorded the feat in the fifth inning on Aug. 25, 2026 [2]. He entered the game tasked with keeping the Twins competitive after the Athletics had already scored two runs in the second inning [1]. Despite the historic performance on the mound, the Twins were unable to overcome the deficit.
The Athletics secured a 4-2 victory over Minnesota [2]. The Oakland offense was led by Carlos Cortes, who hit a home run, and pitcher Gage Jump, who recorded nine strikeouts [2].
While the result was a loss for the Twins, Bradley's performance remains a statistical anomaly in the team's history. The immaculate inning consists of nine consecutive pitches resulting in three strikeouts [1].
Other storylines from the game included an injury to Byron Buxton, who left the contest during the loss [3].
“Taj Bradley threw the first immaculate inning in franchise history”
An immaculate inning is one of the rarest achievements in professional baseball, occurring far less frequently than no-hitters. While Bradley's performance provides a historic highlight for the Minnesota Twins franchise, the loss underscores the team's struggle to provide necessary run support for their pitching staff during this series.
