Michael Tonkin Bio
Michael Harvey Tonkin, born on November 19, 1989, is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Over the course of his career, he has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, and New York Yankees, and also spent a season in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. A right-handed reliever, Tonkin made his MLB debut in 2013 with the Twins and has built a career as a dependable bullpen arm across multiple organizations in the United States and abroad.
Early Life and Background
Michael Harvey Tonkin was born in Glendale, California, and grew up in the Antelope Valley region of Southern California. He attended Palmdale High School in Palmdale, California, where he developed into a promising pitching prospect. Coming out of high school, Tonkin drew attention from several Major League Baseball scouting departments thanks to his strong frame and competitive approach on the mound.
In the 2008 Major League Baseball draft, the Minnesota Twins selected Tonkin in the 30th round, with the 906th overall pick. Although he was a late-round selection, Tonkin quickly established himself within the Twins’ minor league system and steadily worked his way up the organizational ladder. His progression through the lower levels of the minors demonstrated the durability and consistency that would later define his major league career.
Path to Baseball
Tonkin began his professional career with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Twins in 2008, posting a 3.27 earned run average (ERA) in six appearances. He returned to the Gulf Coast League the following year and recorded a 3-4 mark with a 3.62 ERA in 11 games. In 2010, he split the season between the rookie-level Elizabethton Twins and the Class-A Beloit Snappers, finishing with a combined 4-6 record and a 3.40 ERA across 23 appearances.
Tonkin continued to develop in 2011 at Beloit, going 4-3 with a 3.87 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 76+2/3 innings. His most impressive minor league season came in 2012, when he split time between Beloit and the High-A Fort Myers Miracle, posting a 4-1 record and a 2.08 ERA in 44 appearances. On November 20, 2012, the Twins added him to their 40-man roster, signaling that his big league debut was approaching.
Michael Tonkin Career
Early Career (2013-2017)
Tonkin began the 2013 season with the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats before earning a promotion to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. On July 11, 2013, the Twins promoted him to the major leagues, and he made his MLB debut that same day, pitching 1+1/3 scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. He finished his rookie year with a 0.79 ERA in nine appearances for Minnesota.
Over the next several seasons, Tonkin became a familiar face in the Twins’ bullpen. In 2014, he posted a 4.74 ERA in 24 games, and in 2015, he recorded a 3.47 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 23+1/3 innings. His most extensive major league work came in 2016, when he went 3-2 with a 5.02 ERA in 65 relief appearances. In 2017, Tonkin was designated for assignment on May 6, outrighted to Rochester on May 13, and returned to the 40-man roster in September, finishing the year with a 5.14 ERA in 16 games.
Minnesota Twins Breakthrough (2013-2017)
Tonkin’s first taste of the major leagues came with the Minnesota Twins organization, the same franchise that drafted him. His call-up in July 2013 was a milestone moment, and his outstanding 0.79 ERA as a rookie offered a glimpse of the potential the organization saw in him. Throughout his initial stint with the Twins, Tonkin served as a versatile relief pitcher capable of handling multiple innings.
From 2013 through 2017, Tonkin appeared in more than 130 games for the Twins, primarily in middle and long relief roles. While his ERA fluctuated from year to year, he remained a steady presence in the bullpen. After being outrighted and recalled multiple times during the 2017 season, Tonkin’s time in the organization came to an end that winter, when his contract was sold to a club in Japan.
International Stint (2018)
On November 9, 2017, Tonkin’s contract was sold to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. In 2018, he appeared in 53 games for the Fighters, recording a 4-4 record, a 3.71 ERA, and 33 strikeouts in 51 innings of work. His season in Japan broadened his professional experience, and he became a free agent following the campaign.
Independent and Minor League Years (2019-2021)
After returning from Japan, Tonkin spent time with several organizations at the minor league and independent levels. In January 2019, he signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers and was released in March. He then signed with the Milwaukee Brewers, pitching for the Triple-A San Antonio Missions before being released in June. Later that year, he joined the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League, where he posted a 3-2 record and a 0.34 ERA in 21 games. He also spent time in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization before being released in May 2020, and in 2021, he returned to the Long Island Ducks, serving as a closer and earning nine saves with a league-leading 0.53 ERA. He also pitched for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League in 2021.
Atlanta Braves Era (2022-2023)
On January 11, 2022, Tonkin signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. He spent the bulk of that season with the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, where he made 47 relief appearances, logging a 3.17 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 16 saves in 48+1/3 innings. His strong performance led to his contract being selected to the 40-man roster on November 10, 2022.
In 2023, Tonkin returned to the major leagues with Atlanta. On April 11, he earned his first major league victory since 2016, pitching in relief of Kyle Wright. On June 15, he recorded his first career save, throwing 3+1/3 innings in relief of AJ Smith-Shawver. He was non-tendered by the Braves following the season and became a free agent on November 17, 2023.
New York Mets Era (2023-2024)
On December 6, 2023, Tonkin signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the New York Mets. His initial stint with the team was brief, as he posted an 0-2 record and a 4.50 ERA in three games before being designated for assignment on April 5, 2024. After being traded back to the Twins and then claimed off waivers by the Mets a second time in April 2024, Tonkin made two more appearances for New York before being designated for assignment again on April 22.
New York Yankees Era (2024)
On April 25, 2024, the New York Yankees claimed Tonkin off waivers. With the Yankees, Tonkin enjoyed one of his most productive stretches in recent memory, compiling a 3.38 ERA with 57 strikeouts and two saves across 56 innings in 39 relief outings. He earned his second career save on June 10. He was designated for assignment by the Yankees on August 25, 2024.
Return to Minnesota Twins (2024-2025)
On August 27, 2024, the Minnesota Twins claimed Tonkin off waivers from the Yankees. In 13 total appearances for Minnesota that year, he recorded a 3.86 ERA with 22 strikeouts across 16+1/3 innings pitched. He began the 2025 season on the 60-day injured list due to a mild rotator cuff strain and was activated on June 13, 2025, before being outrighted to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints. He was added back to the active roster on July 28 and posted a 2-1 record with a 4.88 ERA in 21 appearances. On November 6, 2025, Tonkin was removed from the Twins’ 40-man roster and elected free agency.
Driving Style and Strengths
Tonkin is a power reliever who relies on a heavy fastball and an effective slider to generate strikeouts. He has shown the ability to work multiple innings in relief and has served as a closer in both independent and minor league settings. His career path, marked by repeated returns to the major leagues through waiver claims and minor league deals, reflects a resilient and adaptable approach to the game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Tonkin’s most notable moments are his MLB debut in 2013, his first career save with the Braves in 2023, and his productive 2024 season with the New York Yankees. His league-leading 0.53 ERA with the Long Island Ducks in 2021 also stands out as a highlight of his independent league career.
Michael Tonkin Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Michael Tonkin has compiled victories at multiple levels, including MLB, NPB, and several independent and minor league stops. His first major league win came early in his career, and he added another in 2023 with the Braves after a long wait between victories.
MLB Highlights
Tonkin’s first major league victory came during his initial stint with the Twins, and he added to that total with the Braves in 2023. Across his MLB career with the Twins, Braves, Mets, and Yankees, he has appeared in more than 200 relief games, contributing to team wins as a middle reliever and occasional closer.
Other Wins & Performances
In the independent Atlantic League, Tonkin posted standout numbers with the Long Island Ducks, including a 0.34 ERA in 2019 and a 0.53 ERA in 2021, during which he also recorded nine saves. In NPB, he won four games for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2018, rounding out a versatile international resume.
Michael Tonkin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Michael Tonkin’s brother-in-law is former MLB outfielder Jason Kubel, connecting the Tonkin family to the broader world of professional baseball. This family tie to the sport has been a steady presence throughout his career.
Personal Life
Tonkin married Becky Feeney at the end of the 2015 season. The couple welcomed their first daughter in 2019. The family has been a source of support throughout his journeyman career across multiple organizations.
2025 Season Performance
Michael Tonkin’s 2025 season began with a setback, as he started the year on the 60-day injured list due to a mild rotator cuff strain. After his activation on June 13, he was outrighted to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints before rejoining the Twins’ active roster on July 28. In 21 appearances with Minnesota, he posted a 2-1 record and a 4.88 ERA with 19 strikeouts over 24 innings of work.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, Tonkin was removed from the Twins’ 40-man roster on November 6 and subsequently rejected an outright assignment, electing free agency. As he enters the next phase of his career, Tonkin remains an experienced relief option for any organization in need of bullpen depth.