When is Taj Bradley Coming Back? Fantasy Baseball Injury Return Update

The 2024 edition of the Tampa Bay Rays was supposed to be able to rely on the strength of their starting pitching. But the Rays are just 13-16 through their first 29 games and rank 15th in team xFIP (4.06).

Shane McClanahan isn't walking through that door this season, but other talented arms like Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen may still return later this year. And while Zach Eflin and Ryan Pepiot have been pretty solid to start this season, Aaron Civale, Zack Littell, and Tyler Alexander have all struggled at times.

Taj Bradley was set to break camp as the fifth starter for the Rays before suffering a pectoral injury that set him back. He's arguably one of the most talented arms in the franchise and the Rays could really use him back in the rotation as they try to right the ship.

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Taj Bradley Injury Update for Fantasy Baseball

The good news for Bradley and the Rays is that his first rehab start at Triple-A was an unqualified success.

Taj Bradley's first rehab start went pretty, pretty well.

The 23-year-old @RaysBaseball righty (peck strain) for the Triple-A @DurhamBulls today:

5 IP
0 H
0 R
1 BB
7 K pic.twitter.com/uzrh4pG5VX

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 28, 2024

He threw 65 pitches and did not allow a hit over five frames while striking out seven. There's no official update on his projected return date, but it's likely that the Rays want him to make several more starts in the minors and work up to 80-90 pitches before they feel comfortable bringing him up for his 2024 debut.

Taj Bradley Fantasy Baseball Outlook

Bradley flashed some major upside in his rookie campaign of 2023. The 23-year-old righty sported an elite 28% strikeout rate over 21 starts. However, it wasn't all good as he had some rocky outings as well and finished with a 5.59 ERA.

Bradley was a popular late-round value pick in drafts this Spring before his injury was announced. He has the type of stuff that could make for a dangerous arsenal, and many were counting on him taking another step forward with his command with another year of experience.

Bradley is rostered in just 22% of Yahoo leagues, but with this positive development in his rehab, that number is likely to increase quickly. If you have room on your IL to stash Bradley, now is the time as picking him up soon could pay off in a big way if he pitches up to his potential. He's an add in all formats as long as you have the roster space and are willing to wait a few more weeks for him to contribute.

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