The Twins have acquired veteran relief pitcher Michael Tonkin from the Yankees via waivers, marking his second stint with Minnesota this season and the third of his MLB career. Despite having pitched effectively for New York throughout much of the spring and early summer, Tonkin was designated for assignment by the Yankees just days ago. Over his time with New York, he posted a 3.38 ERA and recorded 57 strikeouts in 56 innings. Although Tonkin faced some recent struggles, his addition could prove valuable for the Twins’ bullpen, which is in need of reinforcement beyond current key players like Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Cole Sands, and Jorge Alcala.
Tonkin began his major league career with the Twins, appearing in 141 games for Minnesota between 2013 and 2017. After a five-year hiatus from the majors, during which he played in Japan, Mexico, Triple-A, and independent leagues, Tonkin made a comeback with the Braves last season. This year, he had brief tenures with the Mets and the Twins before joining the Yankees.
Earlier today, RHP Michael Tonkin was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 27, 2024
During May and June, Tonkin was one of the Yankees’ standout relievers, with a 1.10 ERA in June after allowing only two runs over 16.1 innings. However, his performance declined in July and August, leading to a 5.02 ERA in July and a 6.57 ERA in August, which contributed to his DFA. Now, with the Twins, Tonkin aims to regain his form.
While Tonkin’s overall numbers with the Yankees were solid, his expected performance metrics this season are somewhat average. As a waiver pickup, there should be cautious optimism about his impact. Nonetheless, he might outperform some of the Twins’ other bullpen options, including Caleb Thielbar, Trevor Richards, Ronny Henriquez, and Scott Blewett.
For his MLB career, Tonkin holds a 4.23 ERA and has accumulated 292 strikeouts across 291.1 innings.