Michael Restovich
Encyclopedia
Michael Jerome Restovich (born January 31, 1979 in Rochester, Minnesota
) is an American
professional baseball
first baseman
and outfielder
.
where after his senior season in 1997 he was named player of the year for the state of Minnesota, and also made the All-American team. He also played basketball in high school. He was scheduled to attend Notre Dame University to play baseball but chose to sign with a professional team instead. His brother and father had previously played baseball at Notre Dame.
. In he played for the Rookie-Class Elizabethton Twins
, where he hit .355 with 13 home runs in 65 games. He was chosen as the Appalachian League
Most Valuable Player. In 1999 with the Quad Cities River Bandits he hit .312 with 19 home runs in 131 games and was selected to both the mid-season and post-season Midwest League
All-Star teams. He made it to Triple-A in , where he hit 29 home runs for Edmonton
and was selected to the Pacific Coast League
post-season all-star team. He also played for the U.S. team in the 2002 All-Star Futures Game
. He also played in the AAA All-Star Game in 2003.
Restovich made his Major League debut on September 18, 2002 for the Twins against the Detroit Tigers
. He was hitless in four at-bats in that game. His first Major League hit was a home run against Kelly Wunsch
of the Chicago White Sox
on September 21. He played in parts of three seasons with the Twins from 2002–2004, appearing in 61 games with a batting average of .274 and 3 home runs.
in , and picked up by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
, only to be claimed off of waivers again, just seven days later, by the Colorado Rockies
. He got into 14 games with the Rockies in , hitting .290 in 31 at bats, before being traded, on May 11, 2005, to the Pittsburgh Pirates
for a player to be named later. He appeared in 52 games as a Pirate, but hit just .214.
to a minor league contract. He played almost the entire year in Triple-A Iowa
, where he hit 27 homers and batted .293.
.At the end of spring training in , Restovich failed to make the team, but outfielder Kory Casto
, after starting poorly, was optioned to Triple-A Columbus
to play every day, and Restovich was called up. On the day Restovich was called up, April 18, he debuted for the Nats as a pinch hitter, hit a single, then stayed in the game, and hit a double in the 13th inning that lead to the winning run in a Nats 5-4 game against the Philadelphia Phillies
. The following day, he got his first start. But after hitting .143, and going hitless in his last 19 at bats, he was sent back to Columbus in early May. At Columbus, Restovich finished the season well, hitting .270 with 20 home runs and 58 RBI over 356 AB. After the season, he was granted free-agency.
, but then signed with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
, of Japan
's Pacific League
on December 8, 2007. He played in 48 games in Japan, with a .223 batting average.
with an invitation to spring training. He began the 2009 season with the team's Triple-A affiliate, the Charlotte Knights
.
with an invite to spring training. He was assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
to start the season. He hit .305 in 111 games with the Isotopes, including 12 homers and 50 RBI.
and was assigned to the team's Triple-A affiliate, the Charlotte Knights
. In 26 games (96 at bats), he hit .229, 3 homeruns and 8 RBI.
from the Chicago White Sox
on July 27, 2011.
Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
.
High school career
Restovich attended Mayo High SchoolMayo High School
Mayo High School is an American high school named after the brothers William James Mayo and Charles Horace Mayo, physicians and founders of the Mayo Clinic. Mayo High School was built in 1966 in the southeastern section of Rochester, Minnesota. A public school, it is part of the Rochester...
where after his senior season in 1997 he was named player of the year for the state of Minnesota, and also made the All-American team. He also played basketball in high school. He was scheduled to attend Notre Dame University to play baseball but chose to sign with a professional team instead. His brother and father had previously played baseball at Notre Dame.
Minnesota Twins
He was drafted in the second round of the 1997 MLB Draft by the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. In he played for the Rookie-Class Elizabethton Twins
Elizabethton Twins
The Elizabethton Twins are a minor league baseball team in Elizabethton, Tennessee, USA. They are a Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League, and have been a farm team of the Minnesota Twins since 1974. The Twins play home games at Joe O'Brien Field...
, where he hit .355 with 13 home runs in 65 games. He was chosen as the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
Most Valuable Player. In 1999 with the Quad Cities River Bandits he hit .312 with 19 home runs in 131 games and was selected to both the mid-season and post-season Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
All-Star teams. He made it to Triple-A in , where he hit 29 home runs for Edmonton
Edmonton Trappers
The Edmonton Trappers were a minor league baseball team in the Pacific Coast League, ending with the 2004 season. Home games were played at Telus Field in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada....
and was selected to the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
post-season all-star team. He also played for the U.S. team in the 2002 All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
. He also played in the AAA All-Star Game in 2003.
Restovich made his Major League debut on September 18, 2002 for the Twins against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. He was hitless in four at-bats in that game. His first Major League hit was a home run against Kelly Wunsch
Kelly Wunsch
Kelly Douglas Wunsch is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He is an alumnus of Texas A&M University....
of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
on September 21. He played in parts of three seasons with the Twins from 2002–2004, appearing in 61 games with a batting average of .274 and 3 home runs.
Colorado Rockies / Pittsburgh Pirates
He was put on waivers by the Twins at the end of spring trainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in , and picked up by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
, only to be claimed off of waivers again, just seven days later, by the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. He got into 14 games with the Rockies in , hitting .290 in 31 at bats, before being traded, on May 11, 2005, to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
for a player to be named later. He appeared in 52 games as a Pirate, but hit just .214.
Chicago Cubs
After the 2005 season, he was released by the Pirates, and signed by the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
to a minor league contract. He played almost the entire year in Triple-A Iowa
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
, where he hit 27 homers and batted .293.
Washington Nationals
At the end of the season, he opted for minor league free agency, and was signed by the Washington NationalsWashington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
.At the end of spring training in , Restovich failed to make the team, but outfielder Kory Casto
Kory Casto
Kory C. Casto is a former Major League Baseball player. Casto began his career with the Washington Nationals. He made his Major League debut April 3, , in a game against the Florida Marlins...
, after starting poorly, was optioned to Triple-A Columbus
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
to play every day, and Restovich was called up. On the day Restovich was called up, April 18, he debuted for the Nats as a pinch hitter, hit a single, then stayed in the game, and hit a double in the 13th inning that lead to the winning run in a Nats 5-4 game against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. The following day, he got his first start. But after hitting .143, and going hitless in his last 19 at bats, he was sent back to Columbus in early May. At Columbus, Restovich finished the season well, hitting .270 with 20 home runs and 58 RBI over 356 AB. After the season, he was granted free-agency.
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
On November 24, 2007, Restovich signed with the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, but then signed with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
, of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
on December 8, 2007. He played in 48 games in Japan, with a .223 batting average.
Chicago White Sox
In January , he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
with an invitation to spring training. He began the 2009 season with the team's Triple-A affiliate, the Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On January 8, 2010, Restovich signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
with an invite to spring training. He was assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
to start the season. He hit .305 in 111 games with the Isotopes, including 12 homers and 50 RBI.
Chicago White Sox
In 2011, Restovich signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
and was assigned to the team's Triple-A affiliate, the Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
. In 26 games (96 at bats), he hit .229, 3 homeruns and 8 RBI.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Restovich was traded to the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
from the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
on July 27, 2011.