Michael Tonkin

Michael Harvey Tonkin (born November 19, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, and New York Mets, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He made his MLB debut with the Twins in 2013.

Minnesota Twins
Tonkin attended Palmdale High School in Palmdale, California. The Minnesota Twins selected Tonkin in the 30th round, 906th overall, of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his professional debut with the rookie-level GCL Twins, and recorded a 3.27 earned run average in 6 games. He returned to the team the following year, posting a 3-4 record and 3.62 earned run average in 11 appearances. In 2010, Tonkin split the year between the rookie-level Elizabethton Twins and the Class-A Beloit Snappers, pitching to a 4-6 record and 3.40 earned run average in 23 appearances between the two teams. He returned to Beloit in 2011, and pitched to a 4-3 record and 3.87 earned run average with 69 strikeouts in $76 2/3$ innings of work. In 2012, Tonkin split the season between Beloit and the High-A Fort Myers Miracle, logging a cumulative 4-1 record and 2.08 earned run average in 44 appearances. On November 20, 2012, the Twins added Tonkin to their 40-man roster. He was assigned to the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats to begin the 2013 season, and received a promotion to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings later in the year.

On July 11, 2013, the Twins promoted Tonkin to the major leagues for the first time, and he made his major league debut that day, pitching $1 1/3$ innings of scoreless ball against the Tampa Bay Rays. He finished his rookie season with a 0.79 earned run average in 9 appearances with Minnesota. Tonkin was optioned to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings on March 24, 2014, but recalled by the Twins on March 31 before the Rochester season began. He was optioned back to Rochester on April 3, and recalled on April 12. He was returned to Rochester again on May 9. Tonkin finished the 2014 season with a 4.74 earned run average in 24 big league games with the Twins. In 2015 with Minnesota, Tonkin pitched to a 3.47 earned run average with 19 strikeouts in $23 1/3$ innings pitched. In 2016, for the Twins, he was 3-2 with a 5.02 earned run average in 65 appearances out of the bullpen. On May 6, 2017, Tonkin was designated for assignment. He was outrighted to Rochester on May 13. On September 5, Tonkin was selected back to the 40-man roster. He ended the year having pitched in 16 games for the Twins, posting a 5.14 earned run average with 24 strikeouts in 21 innings.

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
On November 9, 2017, Tonkin's contract was sold to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). In 2018, Tonkin pitched in 53 games for the Fighters, recording a 4-4 record and 3.71 earned run average with 33 strikeouts in 51 innings of work. He became a free agent after the season.

Texas Rangers
On January 8, 2019, Tonkin signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers organization. He was released by Texas on March 21, 2019.

Milwaukee Brewers
On March 22, 2019, Tonkin signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Tonkin registered a 3-0 record and 4.26 earned run average in 14 games with the Triple-A San Antonio Missions before he was released by the team on June 10.

Long Island Ducks
On June 18, 2019, Tonkin signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 21 games with Long Island, Tonkin pitched to a 3-2 record and 0.34 earned run average with 31 strikeouts in $26 2/3$ innings pitched.

Arizona Diamondbacks
On August 18, 2019, Tonkin's contract was purchased by the Arizona Diamondbacks organization and he was assigned to the Triple-A Reno Aces. Tonkin finished the year with Reno, logging a 7.71 earned run average in 5 games. Tonkin did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 22, 2020, Tonkin was released by Arizona.

Long Island Ducks (second stint)
On March 31, 2021, Tonkin signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. As a closer, Tonkin earned 9 saves and posted a league-leading 0.53 earned run average over 17 innings pitched.

Toros de Tijuana
On July 13, 2021, Tonkin's contract was purchased by the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.

Atlanta Braves
On January 11, 2022, Tonkin signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. He made 47 relief appearances for the Triple–A Gwinnett Stripers, logging a 3.17 earned run average with 73 strikeouts and 16 saves in $48 1⁄3$ innings pitched. On November 10, Tonkin's contract was selected to the 40-man roster.

Pitching in relief of Kyle Wright on April 11, 2023, Tonkin earned his first major league victory since 2016. On June 15, Tonkin threw $3 1/3$ innings in relief of AJ Smith-Shawver, earning his first career save. He was non-tendered and became a free agent on November 17.

New York Mets
On December 6, 2023, Tonkin signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the New York Mets. In three games for the Mets, he posted an 0–2 record and 4.50 earned run average with 3 strikeouts in 4 innings pitched. On April 5, 2024, Tonkin was designated for assignment.

Minnesota Twins (second stint)
On April 9, 2024, the Mets traded Tonkin to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for cash considerations. After one appearance for Minnesota, in which he gave up two runs in two innings, Tonkin was designated for assignment on April 13.

New York Mets (second stint)
On April 17, 2024, Tonkin returned to the New York Mets after being claimed off waivers from the Twins. He made two appearances for New York, allowing two runs in three innings pitched, before he was designated for assignment again on April 22.

New York Yankees
On April 25, 2024, the New York Yankees claimed Tonkin off of waivers. He earned his second career save on June 10.

Personal life
Tonkin married Becky Feeney at the end of the 2015 season. The couple's first daughter was born in 2019. Tonkin's brother-in-law is Jason Kubel.