One of the better feel-good stories of this Yankees season belonged to Michael Tonkin.
The veteran reliever went six years between MLB appearances from 2017-23, pitching in Japan and Mexico and for the independent Long Island Ducks during that stretch.
The right-hander was designated for assignment three times in April by the Mets and Twins before finally landing with the Yankees at the end of that month.
It didn’t take long for Tonkin to earn the trust of manager Aaron Boone and carve out a valuable role in the Yankees bullpen. His sudden rise peaked when Tonkin nailed down a ninth-inning save during a June 10 win in Kansas City.
But Tonkin’s roller-coaster story took another twist Sunday morning when the Yankees designated him for assignment — a move Boone described as being “tough.”
“Tonk’s been great,” Boone said before Sunday’s series finale against the Rockies at Yankee Stadium.
“Just felt like we were potentially leaving ourselves short [in the bullpen],” Boone said. “Not necessarily today, but in any scenario today, probably having a few guys down, including Tonk, where we would’ve had to use a lot of different guys that probably puts us in a bad spot tomorrow.”
Tonkin, 34, was one of five Yankees relievers who appeared in Saturday’s 9-2 loss to Colorado. He threw 1.2 of the six innings that the Yankees bullpen recorded after starter Will Warren struggled through three frames.
The Yankees called up a fresh arm in right-hander Phil Bickford from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to replace Tonkin.
Tonkin went 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA and 57 strikeouts over 56.0 innings in 39 games with the Yankees, but he had struggled of late. His ERA in 12 appearances since the All-Star break was 6.98.
He allowed at least one run in eight of those 12 games, including on Saturday, when he surrendered a two-run home run to Jake Cave.
It was a far cry from Tonkin’s first 27 appearances with the Yankees, when he posted a 1.47 ERA and 37 strikeouts over 36.2 innings.
“He pitched well for us,” Boone said Sunday. “He’s been a great teammate, so difficult decision there.”
Tonkin made his long-awaited return to the majors last season with the Braves and pitched to a 4.28 ERA over 80.0 innings.
He signed with the Mets in the offseason but struggled early on. The Mets designated him for assignment on April 5; traded him to the Twins four days later; and then claimed him back off waivers from Minnesota on April 17.
The Mets designated Tonkin for assignment again on April 22, and the Yankees claimed him three days later.
Bickford pitched to a 14.40 ERA over five appearances with the Yankees in June, but the veteran boasts a 3.00 ERA over 45.0 innings at Triple-A this season.
“He’s been doing a nice job, and he’s got some length to him,” Boone said of Bickford. “Could probably give us a couple innings if we needed it. There were a number of people in the conversation for that, but right now, he seemed like the right guy to take.”
LOU LATEST
Potentially providing some bullpen relief soon will be Lou Trivino, who has not appeared in an MLB game since 2022. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2023.
The veteran right-hander has allowed one run over four innings in four rehab appearances this month, with the last three being scoreless.
“The reports are that it continues to improve each time,” Boone said Sunday. “He was a little slow coming back, but [reports are] that there’s been that steady improvement in his stuff in the crispness and the quality. He’s very much in the mix moving forward, as are a number of other guys.”
GREAT SCOTT
Scott Effross, meanwhile, sports a 3.60 ERA over 25.0 innings in the minors this season.
Like Trivino, the right-handed Effross has not pitched in the majors since 2022, having undergone Tommy John surgery and back surgery since.
“He’s been, I feel like, steadily improving, too,” Boone said Sunday. “Just a lot more consistency, so he is somebody that’s very much in the mix, too.”
The Yankees can carry two additional players once MLB active rosters expand to 28 on Sept. 1.