Michael Tonkin #51

Michael Harvey Tonkin graduated from Palmdale (Calif.) High School... His brother-in-law is 10-year Major League veteran Jason Kubel...Kubel is married to Tonkin's sister Blake...Kubel and Tonkin briefly played together on the Minnesota Twins in 2014...Enjoys barbecuing and smoking his own meat.

2023

Pitching in the Majors for the first time since 2017, made a Major League-leading 24 relief appearances of 2.0 innings or longer, tied for the third-most by a National League pitcher since 2000... Held right-handed hitters to a .190 (30-158) batting average.

2022

Spent the entire season with Triple-A Gwinnett and pitched to a 5-2 record and a 3.17 ERA (17 ER/48.1 IP) over 47 appearances…Walked just 15 against 73 strikeouts...He was named the Stripers’ Most Outstanding Relief Pitcher in Gwinnett’s 2022 Player Awards...Tied for third in the International League with 16 saves, the most he has ever logged for a single team in a season...Combined to tally 21 saves between two clubs in 2013...Signed with the Braves as a Minor League free agent on Jan. 11, and his first appearance with Gwinnett was his first outing in affiliated baseball since 2019...Played for Long Island in the independent Atlantic League in 2019 and 2021...Allowed nine earned runs in 1.0 combined inning over two games, Aug. 5 and Aug. 24...In his other 45 games, combined to pitch to a 1.52 ERA (8 ER/47.1 IP).

2018-21

Spent four years pitching overseas or in independent leagues...In 2018, pitched for the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan's NPB...Posted a 3.71 ERA in 51.0 innings...In 2019, signed with the independent Long Island Ducks and posted a 0.34 ERA (1 ER/26.2 IP) in 21 games...Also pitched for the Ducks in 2021 and again allowed just one earned run, this time in 17.0 innings, good for a 0.53 ERA...Pitched for Tijuana in the Mexican League in 2021.

2017

2016

Made Twins Opening Day roster for first time in career and spent entire season with Minnesota. Earned first Major League win April 17 vs. Los Angeles-AL, pitching 2.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Set career-high with 3.0 innings pitched April 22 at Washington; recorded first Major League at-bat and struck out against Gio Gonzalez. Posted a 1.50 ERA (12.0 IP, 2 ER) with 15 strikeouts in 10 April games. Struck out multiple batters in 21 games, including season-high of four, done three times: April 17 vs. Los Angeles-AL, July 21 at Boston and July 27 vs. Atlanta. Held right-handed hitters to a .266 (50-for-188) average and left-handers to a .306 (30-for-98) average. Ranked second on Twins staff in games (65) and fifth in strikeouts (80). Allowed just 14 of 41 inherited runners to score (34.1%). Set career-highs in games (65), innings pitched (71.2) and strikeouts (80).

2015

Was optioned from Twins spring training to Triple-A Rochester March 20...Was recalled by Minnesota five different times during the season...Did not allow a home run at Rochester in 19 appearances from April 19-July 28....Set single-game career-high with eight strikeouts (9 batters faced) at Rochester in 3.0 innings pitched July 3 at Lehigh Valley...Held opponents scoreless in eight July appearances while at Rochester (15.0 IP) with two walks and 19 strikeouts...combined to post a 0.34 ERA (26.1 IP, 1 ER) in final two months at Rochester before being recalled by Minnesota September 1....Converted eight straight save opportunities for the Red Wings June 30-August 18...finished tied for team lead in saves with Rochester (14)... Ended season with Twins with 10.2 scoreless inning streak from September 13 through season's end....Combined to go 2-1, 1.96 ERA (64.1 IP, 14 ER) with 14 walks and 65 strikeouts in 59 games at Rochester and Minnesota.

2014

Was in Twins spring training, optioned to Triple-A Rochester March 24 but recalled from Rochester and was on Opening Day roster as Brian Duensing was placed on Paternity List...Made one appearance and was optioned to Rochester April 3; recalled again April 12...Posted a 1.29 ERA (7.0 IP, 1 ER) in first nine appearances overall with Minnesota...Optioned to Rochester May 18...Struck out at least one batter in 14 straight appearances May 29-July 5 with Rochester...Ranked third on the Red Wings staff with 39 appearances and led the club in saves with 10 (12 opportunities)...15 of final 19 appearances for Red Wings were scoreless (since July 11), posting a 2.18 ERA (20.2 IP, 5 ER) in that span...Recalled September 2...Pitched in 10 games in September, posting a 2.70 ERA (6.2 IP, 2 ER) with no walks and seven strikeouts.

2013

Participated in his first Twins major league spring training, was optioned March 11...began season with Double-A New Britain. Did not allow an earned run in 15 consecutive appearances (16.2 IP) April 21-May 28 and was promoted to Triple-A Rochester May 30. Did not allow an earned run in first 10 appearances (11.2 IP) for the Red Wings May 30-June 23. Recalled by Minnesota July 11 when Caleb Thielbar was placed on the Bereavement List. Made major league debut July 11 at Tampa Bay, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings with one strikeout. Optioned to Triple-A July 13. Recalled August 20; appeared in one game for the Twins and optioned back to Rochester August 23. Converted 14 of 15 save opportunities for the Red Wings leading the club in saves. Recalled September 9 and posted a 1.00 ERA (9.0 IP, 1 ER) in seven September games. Posted a 3.03 ERA (68.1 IP, 23 ER) with 76 strikeouts and 19 walks in 61 games between all three levels. Led Twins minor leaguers in saves (21). Named reliever on MiLB.com Twins organizational All-Star team.

2012

Started season with Single-A Beloit and won in first appearance, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings April 6 vs. Peoria...Recorded at least one strikeout in 20 of 22 appearances for the Snappers, totalling 53 strikeouts in 39.0 innings; struck out multiple batters in 15 appearances...Selected to play in the Midwest League All-Star Game...Promoted to Single-A Ft. Myers June 20...Named Twins minor league Pitcher of the Week June 15, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings with three saves, no hits allowed, no walks and 12 strikeouts in five games...Named Twins minor league Pitcher of the Month for June, going 0-1, 0.64 (14.1 IP, 1 ER) with two saves and 27 strikeouts in nine games...Recorded at least one strikeout in all 22 appearances for the Miracle, totaling 44 strikeouts in 30.1 innings; struck out multiple batters in 15 appearances...Combined to go 4-1, 2.08 (69.1 IP, 16 ER) with 12 saves, 97 strikeouts and 20 walks in 44 appearances between both levels...Named reliever on MiLB.com Twins organizational All-Star team...Played for Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, going 1-0, 2.45 (14.2 IP, 4 ER) with three walks and seven strikeouts in 10 games...Added to the Twins 40-man roster in November.

2011

Spent entire season with Single-A Beloit...did not allow a run in 13 consecutive appearances (14.2 IP) May 23-June 28...posted a 2.13 ERA (12.2 IP, 3 ER) in 10 June appearances...recorded at least one strikeout in 11 straight appearances (23 total) July 9-August 15...allowed just three home runs on the season and just one in final 40 appearances since May 2...tied for team-lead in appearances (48).

2010

Started season with Single-A Beloit...went 3-6, 4.29 (65.0 IP, 31 ER) in 13 games (12 starts) for the Snappers...transferred to Rookie Elizabethton July 19...eight of his 10 appearances for the E-Twins were scoreless -- seven of those scoreless appearances were outings of 2.0 innings-or-more.

2009

Spent entire season with Rookie GCL Twins...named Twins minor league Pitcher of the Week July 17, going 1-0, 0.00 (7.0 IP) with two hits allowed and 15 strikeouts in one start...went 2-1, 1.73 (26.0 IP, 5 ER) in five August games (4 starts)...finished second in the GCL in strikeouts (60).

2008

Spent first professional season with GCL Twins, going 0-1, 3.27 (11.0 IP, 4 ER) in six games (1 start)...ranked 30th best prospect in the Twins organization by Baseball America entering the 2009 season.