Twins call up veteran reliever Michael Tonkin from St. Paul, send Travis Adams to minors

Michael Tonkin, who spent the first five years of his major league career with the Twins before pitching in Japan in 2018, is back at Target Field.

The 6-7 righthanded reliever, who also pitched briefly for the Twins last season, was called up from Class AAA St. Paul on Monday before the start of a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.

Tonkin, 35, had a 4.82 ERA in 28 innings over 18 games for St. Paul this season. He pitched in 13 games for the Twins in 2024 and 39 more for the Yankees and was playing on a minor-league deal.

Reliever Travis Adams, who gave up five runs in 3⅓ innings in Sunday’s loss to Washington, was sent back to St. Paul. Connor Gillispie was designated for release or assignment to make room for Tonkin on the 40-man roster. Gillispie was claimed off waivers from Miami on June 23 and pitched in four games for the Saints.

THREE-GAME SERIES AT TARGET FIELD

All games on Twins.TV, 830-AM and 102.9-FM

Monday, 6:40 p.m.: RHP Richard Fitts (1-4, 4.86 ERA) vs. RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (5-4, 4.14)

Wednesday, 12:10 p.m.: RHP Brayan Bello (6-5, 3.32 ERA) vs. TBD

BOSTON UPDATE

The Red Sox (57-50) are third in the American League East and are 15-6 this month after winning two of three from the visiting Dodgers. The Red Sox are 4-5 since the All-Star Break after taking a season-high 10-game winning streak into the break. ... Since June 4, they have the third-best record (28-16) in MLB behind Toronto (32-14) and Milwaukee (29-14).

3B Alex Bregman, in his first season with Boston after nine seasons with Houston, is hitting .298 with 13 home runs and 41 RBI. ... The Red Sox are 20-13 against AL East teams and 16-22 against the rest of the league. ... Boston is 23-29 on the road.

All-Star LHP Aroldis Chapman (back tightness) left Sunday’s game after throwing 11 pitches. He is day-to-day. ... Rookie IF Marcelo Mayer (right wrist sprain), was placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday. ... RHP Zack Kelly (right oblique strain), who has been sidelined since June 30, is on a rehab assignment and could be activated this week. RHP Justin Slaten (right shoulder inflammation) is out.

After finishing a stretch of 15 consecutive games against National League teams, the Twins (50-55) return to AL play and face the Red Sox for the second time this season.

The Twins are 12-6 against AL East teams this season. The loss to the Nationals on Sunday dropped the Twins to 29-22 at Target Field and 16-23 in interleague games. The Twins are 10-11 this month after going 9-18 in June.

OF Byron Buxton (left rib cartilage irritation), who sat out Sunday after leaving Saturday’s game in the seventh inning, is day-to-day. ... RHP Bailey Ober (left hip impingement), who has made two rehab starts for the Triple-A Saints, could be activated this week.