Top Prospect
Alert
Michael Restovich: A 2nd round selection in
1997, Restovich is yet another top prospect that the Twins have been able
to bring into their system in recent years. A 6 foot 4, 225 pound slugger,
Michael signed with the Twins just 4 days before he was supposed to enroll
for classes at Notre Dame. A native of Minnesota, Restovich has, in my
opinion, the biggest power upside of any of the Twins prospects. He is
right in the top position prospect group of Cuddyer, LeCroy, and Rivera.
Cuddyer is the only one of the group I rank ahead of Restovich because he
is closer to a "finished product", but Restovich will be just as good of a
pro. His 1999 season at Single-A Quad City was very successful. Michael
hit .312 to go with 19 HR's, 107 RBI, 30 doubles, 6 triples, 74 BB's. and
100 K's in 493 AB's. The home runs and RBI lead the Midwest League. Making
this more impressive is the fact that this is the same league that had
such future stars as Sean Burroughs, Corey Patterson, Travis Dawkins, Eric
Munson, Aaron McNeal and Hee Seop Choi.
Coming out of high school, Michael had been a 1st baseman but has made
a smooth adjustment to playing the outfield. All he needs is continued
playing time to develop his game overall game which is why Minnesota sent
him to the California Fall League after the 1999 season. While playing for
Lancaster there, Michael was hitting .276 in 33 games. In his 127 AB's, he
had 35 hits, 2 HR's, 28 RBI, 9 doubles, 2 triples, 17 runs scored, 3
steals, 19 BB's, and 41 K's (as of 11/11/99).
Michael's professional career began at Elizabethton in 1998 where he
hit .355 in 242 AB's while picking up 13 HR's, 64 RBI, 20 doubles, 68 runs
scored, 54 BB's, 58 K's, and 5 steals. He had a late season promotion to
Fort Wayne. While playing for 20 games for the Wizards, Michael hit .444
(20-45) with 6 RBI, 5 doubles, and 2 triples.
Restovich should start the 2000 season at Fort Meyers. I would look for
him in Minnesota sometime around 2002, where he will have the chance to be
the Twins cleanup hitter.
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