Adams has been up for the MN Twins multiple times this season. Once he came up for three days and never pitched. Then he returned to make his major league debut. Used as a swingman to eat innings this year, it’s been tough sledding as he now owns an 8.03 ERA.

With the Boston Red Sox coming to town on Monday night, Rocco Baldelli needs an additional ready arm for the bullpen. Enter old friend Michael Tonkin.

Michael Tonkin rejoins Minnesota Twins

This offseason the MN Twins tendered Michael Tonkin a $1 million contract to avoid arbitration. He was in line to be an Opening Day member of the bullpen but got hurt and has spent the entire year at Triple-A. Now he’s headed back to the big leagues taking the spot of Adams in relief.

Michael Tonkin has his contract purchased and is called up. Travis Adams is optioned. Connor Gillispie DFA. #MNTwins

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) July 28, 2025

Tonkin had a start and stop to his rehab assignment, but has been pitching routinely since June 7. Across 13 games he owns a 3.10 ERA and has held opposing batters to a .197/.263/.394 slash line.

It’s possible that Tonkin provides a capable quality of relief for the Twins. He pitched with both New York teams as well as Minnesota last season and posted a 3.63 ERA in 79 1/3 innings. Tonkin pitched for Minnesota from 2013 through 2018 before being out of Major League Baseball from 2018 through 2022.

This spring Tonkin didn’t look great, and he was roughed up early on during his rehab assignment. That could have been lingering effects from the right rotator cuff strain. Either way, the goal for him now will be to stick as a member of the bullpen. Out of options, Minnesota would need to DFA Tonkin and have him clear waivers if they were to make a move.

Pitcher shuffling continues for the MN Twins

Not only is Adams headed back to Triple-A St. Paul, but veteran Connor Gillispie has been designated for assignment and will be looking for a new home. The Twins claimed him and his 8.65 ERA from the Miami Marlins earlier this summer.

Gillispie was predictably poor for the St. Paul Saints. He pitched in four games (three starts) and tallied 13 2/3 innings with a 14.49 ERA. The right-hander gave up a whopping 22 runs on 22 hits and allowed six home runs.

Related: Good News Injury Update on Byron Buxton

Minnesota continues to search for pitching stability amongst their plethora of injuries. Baldelli opted for a bullpen game on Sunday against the Nationals. With Adams back to Triple-A, it seems likely that Bailey Ober could take back over a rotation spot when one is needed on Wednesday.

At this point the season is lost for the Minnesota Twins. Derek Falvey is faced with a fire sale prior to the trade deadline on Thursday, and the only question is to what extent he dives in.

That is why, at least in large part, the MN Twins have come out losers in nine of their last ten games. On Sunday, they tried to counter by using a left-handed opener against Milwaukee’s lefty-heavy top of the lineup… and it failed miserably.

Manager Rocco Baldelli made it clear after the game that he won’t hesitate to use the opener strategy again, something he clearly expects to do more of, while Pablo and Zebby recover from their shoulder injuries.

Connor Gillispie becomes Minnesota Twins latest waiver claim

But whether it’s at the beginning, middle or end of the game, the Minnesota Twins are starting to come to the reality that they will need more arms available, whether that be in the bullpen or rotation.

So on Monday, they snagged righty pitcher, Connor Gillispie, off waivers. The 27-year-old was there after, being cut from the Miami Marlins 40-man roster over the weekend. MLB waiver rules force the Twins to add Gillispie to their 40-man roster, taking up their final vacant spot, but he’ll actually start his Twins career in St. Paul.

Twins roster move: RHP Connor Gillispie was claimed off waivers from the Marlins and optioned to Class AAA.

Gillispie, 27, had an 8.65 ERA in six starts for Miami. That fills the last open spot on the Twins’ 40-man roster.

— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) June 23, 2025

The Minnesota Twins have done plenty of roster shuffling in recent weeks. They claimed Joey Wentz (Pittsburgh) back on June 11, the same day they moved Pablo Lopez off the active 40-man and onto the 60-day injured list.

What can Gillispie off the Twins?

Last season, Connor Gillispie made his big league debut out of the bullpen with the Cleveland Guardians. He pitched just eight innings over three games, but finished with respectable numbers 2.25 ERA and 1.125 WHIP, albeit a small sample size.

This year, however, Gillispie came up as a starter for the Miami Marlins, posting a brutal 8.65 ERA (5.69 FIP) across 26 innings. He did have some success early this season, back in April, but he’s mostly disappointed since.

Great outing for Connor Gillispie. Command was awesome, and had some HUGE strikeouts.

5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

Clutch strikeout here of Lindor on a cutter to end the 5th. pic.twitter.com/zY68XKcX7q

— Jeremiah Geiger (@JeremiahGeiger2) April 2, 2025

Unfortunately, Connor Gillispie — who joins Jonah Bride as the second former Marlin to be acquired by Minnesota this year — hasn’t performed much better down the minors.

In eight games (seven starts) with Triple-A Columbus, the former 9th round draft pick out of VCU has posted a 4.28 ERA in 33.1 innings, with just 5.9 SO/9, which is way down from the 8.8 SO/9 during his career. His walks (4.3 BB/9) are way up too.

Minnesota Twins desperate for pitching help

This is an unfortunate cry for depth from the Minnesota Twins. Andrew Morris would have been next in line to start big league games, if needed. Then this weekend, he landed on the Saints’ injured list.

Pierson Ohl was promoted to St. Paul on Monday, where he will be inserted into the rotation. His prospect does not shine like those who recently have come up and struggled (David Festa, Simeon Woods Richardson, and Zebby Matthews).

Related: Expect More Minnesota Twins “Openers”

It remains to be seen if Gillispie will work his way into the Minnesota Twins plans.They could have rostered Richard Lovelady for the bullpen, and turned to Wentz if in need of a starter. Lovelady recently opted out of his minor league deal with the Twins, after posting a 1.31 ERA across 20 2/3 innings with the Saints.

He signed Monday with the New York Mets.