Aaron Boone and Yankees Debutant Michael Tonkin Share Contrasting Opinions On Relief Pitcher’s Debut Performance

Michael Tonkin’s season of 2024 is one to note. It has been a whirlwind. Imagine being claimed off waivers, traded, re-claimed, and then DFA’d. All of this is just within a month! That’s the rollercoaster ride Tonkin has been on. And finally, it has landed him in the pinstripes as he joins the New York Yankees. But what is his contribution going to look like after such a turbulent start to the year?

There goes a saying in baseball,  that baseball is a tough job and for Tonkin, that statement couldn’t have been truer as he admits. If one were to look at the summary of Tonkin, this is what it would look like. “Well, here’s Michael Tonkin’s timeline,” summarizing the dizzying sequence of events. He was with the Mets, the Twins, the Mets again, and finally DFA’d by the Mets.”

Is Michael Tonkin finding redemption in the Bronx?

He began the season with the Mets, only to be designated for assignment (DFA’d) after a couple of rough outings. The Minnesota Twins then scooped him up, but his time with them lasted all of one appearance before they too sent him packing. Impressively, the Mets decided to give him another shot, but it was short-lived as he found himself DFA’d yet again. 

Upon being asked about him being “a save situation in extra innings” after the topsy-turvy movement, the t34-year-old pitcher said, “I mean, you know, it’s, I think baseball in general. so still gotta go out and do your job.” But now, Tonkin finds himself in unfamiliar territory – the Bronx. 

The Yankees, who are currently facing bullpen issues of their own, took a chance on the veteran reliever. Tonkin is a pitcher with a well-traveled career, and his work is cut out for him. His early-season stats, with a 6.00 ERA in limited appearances, aren’t exactly inspiring. So despite the movement taking a bit of a toll on him, the righty is now ready to take on the new challenge. 

Will he be able to prove himself in the Bronx as Aaron Boone Believes?

Despite these challenges, Tonkin has an opportunity to rewrite his narrative. But in his play in with the Yankees, he gave up a walk-off single with one out in the bottom of the 11th. Despite that, Manager Aaron Boone said, “Definitely a tough spot to go on but he’s got a lot of experience”, this shows the trust Boone has in Tonkin’s arms. The Yankees are in dire need of reliable arms, and if Tonkin rediscovers his form, he can curate a niche for himself in their bullpen. His experience, particularly his success with the Braves last season, suggests he has the potential to be a valuable contributor.

Whether Tonkin succeeds or not in New York is yet to be seen. However, one thing is certain: his journey to get there has been anything but straight. The constant movement in the roster can’t be easy on a player’s confidence. Yet, the Yankees fans will be watching closely to see if this latest stop in Tonkin’s baseball journey proves to be a happy ending.