Career Highlights: 26th round selection of the Houston Astros in 2005…played college baseball at Santa Clara University, hitting .261 with six homeruns and 38 RBI in 52 games played for the Broncos as a senior in 2005…finished fourth in the Midwest League in 2007 in homeruns (19) and first in HR/AB (1/20.37)…expected to be Wichita’s starting third baseman…has 2.0 career IP, including two strikeouts…works as a baseball coach in the offseason…enjoys basketball and golf
2007
Burlington (Midwest/A): Finished fourth in the Midwest League with 19 homeruns…averaged one homerun for every 20.37 at bats, which ranked first…had 19 multi-hit games, including two 3-hit games…had 12 multi-RBI games, including three 3-RBI games, and three 4-RBI games…hit two homeruns in one game on 4/28 at Quad City…had 5-game hitting streak from 4/30-5/4 (5-19, .263, 2 HR, 8 RBI)…also drove in at least one run in each of those five games…had 5-game hitting streak from 6/10-6/14 (8-21, .381, 4 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI)…hit .268 in 183 at bats at home, .172 in 204 at bats on the road…41 of 84 hits were for extra bases
2006
Lexington (South Atlantic/A): Had 6-game hitting streak from 5/5-5/12 (7-24, .292, 4 R, 3 2B, 4 RBI)…had two 3-RBI games…homered in back-to-back games from 5/17-5/18…14 of 36 hits were for extra bases
Salem (Carolina/A+): Hit .236 in 55 at bats over 17 games with the Avalanche…went 3-4 with a double on 7/8 vs. Potomac
2005
Tri-City (New York-Penn/A): Hit .262 in his first professional experience with the ValleyCats in 202 at bats over 53 games…hit safely in 35 of 53 games played…drove in three runs in one game three separate times…hit first professional homerun on 7/4 vs. Lowell…had 6-game hitting streak from 7/2-7/9 (10-26, .385, 5 R, 5 RBI)…had 5-game hitting streak from 8/4-8/11 (9-21, .429, 5 RBI)…had 14 multi-hit games, including two 3-hit games, and one 4-hit game…picked up first career hit in professional debut on 6/21 vs. Oneonta, going 1-4
Kash Beauchamp on Michael: Mike brings us a prototypical third baseman, which is very hard to find in independent ball. Any time you can sign a third baseman with power to who hit 19 homeruns last year, was an All-Star, and that can also bring solid defense it is a definite plus. Another interesting thing about Michael is his ability to pitch. He throws hard and has a great slider with very confident mound presence, so he will be evaluated in spring training on the mound as well.
