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Twins Claim Michael Tonkin On Waivers from Yankees, Looking to Stabilize Middle Relief Corps

Matthew Trueblood
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Matthew Trueblood Cedar Rapids Kernels

Matthew Trueblood

Twins Daily Editor
Posted
Posted

In bringing back the journeyman righthander for a third stint with the team (and second this year), the team is hoping to regain some reliability in a unit ravaged by injuries.

Image courtesy of © Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

His first stint with the 2024 Twins could hardly have been a less fulfilling homecoming for Michael Tonkin, whom the team drafted in the now-defunct 30th round back in 2008 and who pitched his first five big-league seasons in Minnesota. This time, he comes back with a real chance to make the playoff roster and contribute substantial, medium-leverage relief innings.

After being let go by the Mets early this season, Tonkin landed with the Twins only for a couple of days, making one forgettable appearance. After that, he was designated for assignment again, and the Yankees scooped him up--whereupon he found a new way to succeed against big-league hitters, at age 34. Now, he's back with Minnesota, after being a victim of the perpetual roster crunch faced by big-market teams who invest in redundancy.

While he called the Bronx home, though, Tonkin did a lot of good work. He piled up 56 innings with a 3.38 ERA, largely supported by peripheral indicators. He struck out 24.6% of opposing batters and walked 9.1%, thanks in part (albeit indirectly) to an increased reliance on his sinker.

Screenshot 2024-08-27 134044.png

The Twins were never going to be the place where Tonkin discovered the utility of that pitch; almost no team in baseball throws fewer sinkers. They don't teach it often, or especially well. However, the Yankees do, and Tonkin discovered that he could play off the naturally significant arm-side run of his four-seamer to make the heavy sinker a highly effective alternative look. Having two flavors of slider only made that play up more nicely.

Tonkin Yanks.png

None of his four offerings misses bats the way you want a relief pitcher's out pitch to do so, and both versions of his fastball are a little underheated, sitting 91-94 and touching only a tick higher. As a four-pitch mix, though, it plays like a small-town symphony--less grand than the big-city version, a bit less technically brilliant, but more accessible.

Tonkin can slot right into the middle of Rocco Baldelli's bullpen depth chart, and as long as his new, old team doesn't mess with what he's been doing lately, it should be a fruitful new, old partnership. This is the kind of pickup the team has been craving: a bit of newfound versatility and stability in the bridge from their young starters to their fireballing relief aces.


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jorgenswest St Paul Saints

jorgenswest

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
39 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Another dumpster dive.

Is there really a need to equate a human to trash?

It looks to me like Michael Tonkin has worked incredibly hard to get back to the majors. His family has moved all over the place including overseas in his effort. He has had reasonable success over the last two years since returning to the majors and really deserves better from us.

chpettit19 Minnesota Twins

chpettit19

Community Moderator
Posted
Posted
43 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

Not crazy about it but let's see. Probably much better than the deadline move. Seems more like a band-aid than anything else. I'd prefer a Varland/Winder-type move instead until something more substantial comes along.

Varland and Winder aren't eligible to be recalled yet. I'd guess Winder replaces Henriquez or Blewett later this week. Harder to predict their Varland plan, but he's not eligible to return for a few days anyways.

insagt1 First Round Pick

insagt1

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

Twins whiffed on Richards. While they are still in the division race mathematically realistically unless they get their injuries under control they won't keep up with KC or Cleveland. Too many holes

Hope Buck and Lee are ready now. More and more seems like Correa is done. Nothing positive coming down the pike there. Tonkin might help. Guess we'll see.

It was very disappointing seeing Ober pitch last night. We are counting on him to be a stopper. Last night's game was a complete waste of time and pitching resources. Everyone has an opinion about this team. Mine would be not consistent enough to be anything more than a 3rd WC. Of course the Os are also fading so there aren't any guarantees anymore. I have always felt this tlyear the AL East belongs to NY.

 

 

 

 

 

chinmusic Draft Eligible

chinmusic

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

Possibly not quite as bad as it looks to me (maybe), but currently the Twins are behind the 8 ball before the games even start.

There are just too many leaks to plug right now.

Not Rocco's fault. Not Falvey and Levine's fault.

That leaves ownership.

Anyway, go Twins go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

LA Vikes Fan FCL Twins

LA Vikes Fan

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
12 minutes ago, chinmusic said:

Possibly not quite as bad as it looks to me (maybe), but currently the Twins are behind the 8 ball before the games even start.

There are just too many leaks to plug right now.

Not Rocco's fault. Not Falvey and Levine's fault.

That leaves ownership.

Anyway, go Twins go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This team has just run out of players. Miranda is the grizzled old vet in the middle of the order. They are trying to win games with a number two, three, and four hitter in Larnach, Lewis and Wallner, who have less than 500 major league at bats each, and a rotation that has three rookies. Their other key hitters are 38-year-old first baseman known primarily for his glove and taking walks, and a utility guy who leads the team in ABs. Add in a bullpen that’s clearly at least three pitchers short and it’s a wonder these guys can even play .500.

purplesoldier4u College Ball

purplesoldier4u

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

"Not Rocco's fault. Not Falvey and Levine's fault."

They should share some of the blame.

"That leaves ownership."

Wherein most of the blame lies.

" ... it’s a wonder these guys can even play .500."

Thankfully, there are teams as medicocre, or worse, than the Twins!

All said, there have been some pleasant discoveries, in unexpected areas, and that is a positive.

mikelink45 Minnesota Twins

mikelink45

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, insagt1 said:

Twins whiffed on Richards. While they are still in the division race mathematically realistically unless they get their injuries under control they won't keep up with KC or Cleveland. Too many holes

Hope Buck and Lee are ready now. More and more seems like Correa is done. Nothing positive coming down the pike there. Tonkin might help. Guess we'll see.

It was very disappointing seeing Ober pitch last night. We are counting on him to be a stopper. Last night's game was a complete waste of time and pitching resources. Everyone has an opinion about this team. Mine would be not consistent enough to be anything more than a 3rd WC. Of course the Os are also fading so there aren't any guarantees anymore. I have always felt this tlyear the AL East belongs to NY.

 

 

 

 

 

I am afraid the other teams had a better medical exam for Correa than us, but we do like to get injury prone pitchers so I guess it fits with position players too.

 

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