Minnesota Twins right-hander Michael Tonkin (shoulder) is scheduled to make a minor-league rehab appearance on Friday with Low-A Fort Myers. Tonkin is recovering from a strained right shoulder that landed him on the 15-day injured list to begin the 2025 regular season. The 35-year-old veteran is working his way back, though, and should be able to make his season debut before the end of April, barring a setback on his rehab assignment. He spent the 2024 season with the Twins, New York Mets and New York Yankees, posting a combined 3.63 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, a career-high two saves, a career-high 85 strikeouts and 30 walks in 79 1/3 relief innings. Tonkin lacks the velocity to be much of a strikeout artist out of the bullpen, making him pretty much useless in fantasy.
Phil Miller of the Minnesota Star Tribune notes that Minnesota Twins pitcher Michael Tonkin (shoulder) is set to begin the 2025 season on the injured list. The 35-year-old picked up what was labeled as a "slight" shoulder strain in his last outing on Feb. 28. Although he is progressing, it appears Tonkin won't make the team's Opening Day roster. The righty was solid in 2024 while spending time with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and eventually, Minnesota -- pitching to a 3.63 ERA and 1.26 WHIP across 79.1 innings. Fantasy managers can expect him to slot back into his middle reliever role upon returning to health.
Minnesota Twins right-handed pitcher Michael Tonkin (shoulder) has a "slight" shoulder strain and will be examined in a week. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could be in danger of missing Opening Day if this injury begins to linger. Tonkin last made an appearance in spring training on February 28. Last season, Tonkin spent time with the Mets, Yankees and Twins. Across 79 1/3 total innings he posted a 3.63 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP. He tallied 85 strikeouts but held a high 8.8 percent walk rate. He also generated a strong 35.0 percent hard-hit rate and a solid 7.4 percent barrel rate. When Tonkin is cleared to return, fantasy managers should expect him to return to his role as a middle reliever. Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, and Brock Stewart are protected to see most of the high-leverage opportunities.
Right-hander Michael Tonkin and the Minnesota Twins agreed to a one-year, $1 million deal on Friday to avoid salary arbitration. It was an interesting season in 2024 for Tonkin, to say the least. The 35-year-old veteran began the season with the Twins before spending time with the New York Mets and New York Yankees. He was eventually claimed on waivers and returned to Minnesota in August. With those three teams, Tonkin held a 3.63 ERA (3.44 FIP), a 1.26 WHIP, his first two career saves, a career-high 85 strikeouts and 30 walks in 79 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. The former 30th-round pick of the Twins way back in 2008 should return to a middle-relief role in Minnesota this next season but won't have a ton of fantasy value.
Michael Tonkin Agrees To Big-League Deal With Mets
Free-agent right-hander Michael Tonkin agreed to a one-year, $1 million major-league deal with the New York Mets on Tuesday, according to a source. Tonkin was nothing spectacular in 2023, but it was his return to the majors for the first time in six seasons. The 34-year-old veteran pitched for the Atlanta Braves and had a 4.28 ERA (4.43 FIP) and 1.09 WHIP with 23 walks and 75 strikeouts in 80 innings pitched over 45 relief appearances. Tonkin isn't going to be on the fantasy radar whatsoever and will most likely start the 2024 season providing long relief for the Mets' bullpen. In six major-league seasons (five with the Minnesota Twins), Tonkin has a 4.37 ERA (4.52 FIP) and 1.31 WHIP in 226 1/3 relief innings.
Michael Tonkin
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Twins
