The Long Island Ducks have added two new names to their 25th Anniversary team. Former relief pitcher Michael Tonkin has been chosen as the 20th member and former infielder/outfielder/DH Ray Navarrete will be a part of the special team as well.
Tonkin pitched with the Ducks during the 2019 and 2021 seasons. He was as close to a perfect shut down arm as you can get. He made 37 appearances and allowed just two earned runs in 43.2 innings of work, that comes out to an insanely low 0.41 ERA. He added 16 saves and struck out 52 batters while walking just 14.
Since his time with the Flock, the 35-year-old has gone on to spend two seasons in the Major Leagues. He was called up by the Atlanta Braves in 2023 before splitting the 2024 campaign with the New York Mets, New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins. Tonkin is currently pitching in MLB Spring Training with the Twins.
Ray Navarrete spent eight seasons in a Ducks uniform from 2006 to 2013. The powerful bat set franchise records for home runs with 137, RBIs with 548, runs, doubles, total bases, extra-base hits and at bats. He also ranks second in team history with 963 hits and third with 863 games played, holding both records at the time he retired.
He not only set Ducks records, but he still is the Atlantic League all-time record holder in runs, doubles, extra-base hits and hit by pitch while ranking second in RBIs and total bases and third in homers, at bats and games played.
He was part of the back-to-back Atlantic League championships in 2012 and 2013, and he reached the Atlantic League playoffs in seven of his eight seasons with the Ducks. He became the first Duck to be named Atlantic League Player of the Year in 2009. He was named to the Atlantic League’s Silver Anniversary Team in 2023.