LATEST PG SHOWCASE REPORT
2007 National Showcase
Michael Tonkin is a 2008 RHP with a 6'6'', 192 lb. frame from Palmdale, CA who attends Palmdale HS. He has a tall, slender build with long arms and legs. Tonkin throws from a high energy, multi-part delivery that provides loads of deception to the hitter but which is going to be difficult to maintain with ideal consistency. All hitters see coming at them are flying elbows and knees before some nasty stuff comes out of Tonkin's extended 3/4's release point. The worrisome part of Tonkin's delivery is the lack of front side leverage from his upper body and the hard recoil he has on release. He does seem to repeat is delivery/release point well and threw strikes with an idea. Tonkin's fastball was 90-93 mph and had nasty late sinking action at the plate. He complimented that with a sharp and big slurve type slider out of the same release point at 78 mph. There were a ton of swings and misses against Tonkin and those hitters who managed to make contact beat the ball into the ground. It looked like no one enjoyed hitting against him. It will be interesting watching what could be a continuing saga of Tonkin's delivery/mechanics as they project against his raw stuff. Tonkin is a very good student off the field.