Michael Tonkin Adds Depth to Twins’ Bullpen Hierarchy

[Cody Christie]

Fans who have followed the Minnesota Twins farm system over the last decade know Michael Tonkin well. On Tuesday, the Twins brought back the former prospect. So, what can he bring to the Twins, and how does it change the bullpen hierarchy?

 

Image courtesy of © Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

The Twins drafted Michael Tonkin in the 30th round of the 2008 MLB Draft, from a high school in California. For some perspective, MLB has cut the draft to 20 rounds in recent years, adjusting to the fact that there are fewer minor-league teams. As a high-school pitcher, Tonkin slowly worked through the organization. He posted a sub-3.50 ERA in the low minors, before becoming a full-time reliever in 2011. His 2012 season put him on the map as a relief prospect. In 69 1/3 innings, he posted a 2.08 ERA between Low- and High-A. The Twins were aggressive with him the following season, as he was pushed to make his big-league debut. 

From 2013-17, Tonkin became a fixture in the Twins’ bullpen mix. He posted a 4.43 ERA with a 1.43 WHIP and 9.2 K/9 in 146 1/3 innings. He became less effective over his last two seasons with the Twins, with his ERA ballooning above 5.00 and both hits and home runs piling up against him. He went to Japan in 2018, pitched at Triple-A for Milwaukee and Arizona in 2019, and bounced between the Mexican League and independent ball in 2021. Last season, Tonkin added depth to the Braves bullpen while combining for a 4.28 ERA with a solid 23.1% strikeout rate and 7.1% walk rate across 80 innings. He signed a split one-year deal with the Mets for $1 million this winter and appeared in three games for them before being cast aside.

Tonkin was a necessary pickup because the Twins currently have seven relievers on the injured list, and the team played their first game of the Dodger series with only 12 pitchers on the 26-man roster. Jhoan Durán, Caleb Thielbar, Daniel Duarte, Josh Staumont, and Justin Topa are on the 15-day IL, while Zack Weiss and Josh Winder are now on the 60-day IL. Thielbar (hamstring) and Staumont (calf) both started rehab assignments with the St. Paul Saints on Tuesday and have a chance to re-join the Twins as early as this weekend. 

With reinforcements returning soon, Tonkin must utilize his full pitch mix to be effective and stick on the roster. Last season, Tonkin used two pitches regularly: a sinker and a slider. Batters hit .226 against his sinker, with a .421 SLG and a 48-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 209 plate appearances. His slider was more effective, with batters limited to a .304 SLG and a 30.4 Whiff%. Tonkin began using a four-seamer again this season, but that was one of his issues with the Mets. Opponents went 4-for-9 against it, with a double and a home run. It will be interesting to see if the Twins attempt to convince him to ditch that pitch. 

So, where does Tonkin fit into the team’s bullpen hierarchy? The Twins have used Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart in a dual closer role, which will likely continue until Durán returns from injury. Minnesota’s set-up situation has been a little cloudier, with different options and varying levels of success. Jorge Alcalá, Steven Okert, and Jay Jackson have all gotten opportunities in the late innings. Alcalá left Saturday’s game with a sore arm, but played catch on Sunday and felt better. Kody Funderburk is the second lefty in the bullpen behind Okert, so it will be interesting to see if the team keeps him when Thielbar is deemed healthy enough to come off the shelf. Cole Sands was kept on the roster as a long reliever, but has been limited to low-leverage appearances in the season’s early games. Tonkin will likely pitch in a middle-inning role similar to what Funderburk and Sands have filled in 2024.

Tonkin’s career has been a roller coaster. He’s played in multiple countries and likely thought his days as a big-leaguer at least once. He has persevered, though, and helped a Braves team that won over 100 games last season. His season isn’t off to a perfect start, but he still has an opportunity to be a valuable bullpen piece on a Twins team desperate for depth. 

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Can Tonkin stick in the bullpen if the team gets healthy? Will the Twins have him ditch his four-seamer? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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[tarheeltwinsfan]

Any port in a storm. 

[KBJ1]

Two words. Desperate times.

[Doctor Gast]

IMO they could have found a better gem in the rough but maybe this coaching staff saw something that the last missed.

[Karbo]

They need someone who can hit!

[laloesch]

6 minutes ago, Karbo said:

They need someone who can hit!

They need someone who can hit and they need another starter who can start.

[IndianaTwin]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

IMO they could have found a better gem in the rough but maybe this coaching staff saw something that the last missed.

Thoughts on who? That checks the boxes of "immediately available/ready to pitch today" and "no real cost"?

This is a "don't use up an option/who can we waive with no real ramifications when Thielbar and Staumont are activated in a couple days/let's not add someone we want to keep to the 40-man roster yet" move.

The options in that situation are pretty limited. If he actually shows enough to stay on the roster for more than a week, that's a bonus. 

[USAFChief]

10 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

Thoughts on who? That checks the boxes of "immediately available/ready to pitch today" and "no real cost"?

This is a "don't use up an option/who can we waive with no real ramifications when Thielbar and Staumont are activated in a couple days/let's not add someone we want to keep to the 40-man roster yet" move.

The options in that situation are pretty limited. If he actually shows enough to stay on the roster for more than a week, that's a bonus. 

Concur.

The qualities the Twins see in Tonkin: 

1. Warm body, at basically zero cost 

2. Immediately available, at basically zero cost

3. Basically zero cost

[joefish]

1 hour ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Any port in a storm. 

The port is underwater.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

4 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Concur.

The qualities the Twins see in Tonkin: 

1. Warm body, at basically zero cost 

2. Immediately available, at basically zero cost

3. Basically zero cost

Indeed.  He’s just an easy band aid to tide us over until we can get more pitchers healthy.  Totally reasonable choice.  

[joefish]

1 hour ago, KBJ1 said:

Two words. Desperate times.

Two words: hit the fuc@#% ball.

[IndianaTwin]

41 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Concur.

The qualities the Twins see in Tonkin: 

1. Warm body, at basically zero cost 

2. Immediately available, at basically zero cost

3. Basically zero cost

He also doesn't cost much. 

[USAFChief]

39 minutes ago, joefish said:

Two words: hit the fuc@#% ball.

I doubt Tonkin gets enough plate appearances to make much difference. 

[Beast]

No, he doesn’t add depth.  Depth implies competence.  A bunch a JAGs and AAAA guys standing in a longer line to get shelled does not constitute depth.

[Jeff K]

Perfect; adding a has been/never was...

[KnoblauchWasFramed]

Trying to get people excited about this dumpster diving move is straight WILD!!  

[IndianaTwin]

13 minutes ago, KnoblauchWasFramed said:

Trying to get people excited about this dumpster diving move is straight WILD!!  

Looking back through the comments, I don't know that any of us are saying we are excited about the move. There are just several of us saying it's a logical and not unexpected signing given the current injury context. 

[DocBauer]

I mean, who else was available that was a better alternative? His 2023 performance for the 100 win Braves was actually really solid. He had a respectable ERA, had a great WHIP with around 70 IP and only about 60 hits and K'd over 8 per 9.

I don't know what his ST looked like, but he's only thrown 3 not so good innings this year before being cut loose. I'm a little surprised he was cut so quickly. 

He provides another long/middle arm on what is probably a temporary basis. If he recaptures his 2023 form, he could be useful. If not, he's an easy cut when others get healthy, which is probably soon.

They've got like 9 arms on the IL and 60 day list, and now Headrick has a sore arm as well. 

Who else should they have signed?

[Major League Ready]

19 hours ago, Jeff K said:

Perfect; adding a has been/never was...

I would bet we can find the same type of posts about Stewart if we look back to the start of last season right along side hundreds of posts condemning Paddack.  This is a no cost back-up plan to tide the team over until Duran and others make it back.  As Doc pointed out, the braves thought he had value but I guess he is not good enough to provide depth until we get some guys healthy.  

[Jeff K]

42 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I would bet we can find the same type of posts about Stewart if we look back to the start of last season right along side hundreds of posts condemning Paddack.  This is a no cost back-up plan to tide the team over until Duran and others make it back.  As Doc pointed out, the braves thought he had value but I guess he is not good enough to provide depth until we get some guys healthy.  

That's fair, Stewart has been great.  I guess with Stewart's success, all extreme long shots are worth a roster spot.  And I get with the extensive injuries to the pen, the Twins have next to no options to add to the staff.  This guy is clearly on the roster as a warm body.