Michael Restovich Stats & Scouting Report

AB	268
AVG	.239
OBP	.313
SLG	.377
HR	6

Full name Michael Jerome Restovich
Born 01/03/1979 in Rochester, MN
Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 240 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Mayo
Debut 09/18/2002
Drafted in the 2nd round (61st overall) by the Minnesota Twins in 1997.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

A native Minnesotan, Restovich continues to slip in the eyes of the organization. He ranked in the top five on this list each year from 1999-2003, but has plateaued over the last two seasons while others have blown past him. Restovich still has the best raw power in the system. He drills fastballs with a smooth, sound swing. Quality breaking balls are another story, however. Strikeouts have been a problem along the way, and his walk rate dropped noticeably last year. Restovich is a good athlete for his size. His speed, corner-outfield defense and arm are all fine. He has played sparingly in the majors during the past three seasons, and he's now out of minor league options. The Twins decided to bring Jacque Jones back for 2005, but fellow outfield prospect Jason Kubel's knee injury may enhance Restovich's chances of making the club. He broke his right collarbone when he fell on some ice during Thanksgiving weekend, but should be completely healthy for spring training.
Restovich ranked in the top five on this list from 1999-2003, but he took a step in the wrong direction when he repeated Triple-A last year. Though he hit .283 in a brief stay in Minnesota, the Twins were disappointed with his lack of power and sent him to winter ball in Puerto Rico, where his manager was Twins bench coach Steve Liddle. Restovich's raw power is his calling card. He can hit fastballs a mile with his fluid, direct swing. He concentrated on making consistent contact and hitting the ball to right field last year. While he showed versatility with his new approach, Restovich needs to hit the ball out of the park and be a run producer. That won't happen by inside-outing balls to the opposite field. His strikeout rates have risen as he has advanced. He's just adequate as a baserunner and corner outfielder. This is a pivotal year in Restovich's career. With a crowded outfield in Minnesota, he appears headed for a third straight year in Triple-A. The Twins have turned down several trade inquiries for him, but a change of scenery might be best at this point.
Drafted a round after Michael Cuddyer, Restovich has been a step behind in his development ever since. Restovich headed to the Arizona Fall League for the second straight year to catch up, but he was exhausted by November and his performance reflected it. A gifted athlete who's built like a linebacker, Restovich has the unique ability for someone his size to combine pure strength with a short swing. His raw power, which rates a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale, produces home runs that don't come down for a while. His arm strength and speed are average. Restovich understands the strike zone and has solid average bat speed, but he can be beat with good heat and needs to learn to lay off breaking balls away. A high school third baseman who has played left field for five years, he is still learning the finer points of defense, throwing and baserunning. With nine outfielders on the 40-man roster, the Twins can afford to start Restovich at Triple-A Rochester in 2003. He could be ready for a regular spot in the lineup by 2004, when he'll be just 25.
As with Michael Cuddyer, Restovich rebounded after a 2000 season below his previous standards. He also had a successful stint in the Arizona Fall League, batting .289-6-28. Like Joe Mauer, he was a multisport star at a Minnesota high school. Restovich set the Mayo High record for career points in basketball. Even at a burly 6-foot-4 and 233 pounds, Restovich is one of the system's best all-around athletes. He generates light-tower power with the natural loft in his swing. He can crush the ball to rightcenter and is learning to pull the ball with authority. His arm is average, and he has the agility and range to cover the spacious left-field territory in the Metrodome. High strikeout totals are going to be a tradeoff for Restovich's power. He's a step behind Mauer, Justin Morneau and Cuddyer with his hitting approach. His ceiling is as high as anyone's in the organization. It's just a matter of maturing at the plate and recognizing counts and situations. After a full year at Triple-A Edmonton, he should be ready to join Cuddyer and Torii Hunter in Minnesota's outfield.
A home state product, Restovich rejected a Notre Dame baseball scholarship to sign with the Twins. He broke his high school's record for career points in basketball. The No. 2 prospect behind Braves infielder Rafael Furcal in the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 1998, he stumbled for the first time as a pro at Class A Fort Myers in 2000. Restovich has the best raw power among Twins farmhands, and the big league club needs sluggers like him. He also runs well for a player his size and led Minnesota minor leaguers with 19 stolen bases. He has improved his two-strike approach in each of the last two seasons. After a slow start in 2000, Restovich was able to get around better on inside fastballs. He also demonstrated improvement with his baserunning instincts, but will need to keep progressing. His outfield jumps and throwing accuracy are also developing. Managers ranked Resto the 17th-best prospect in the Florida State League, and he may return there to begin 2001. He hit 19 homers in the Class A Midwest League in 1999, and the Twins hope he becomes a threat to hit 25-30 a season.
Background: Restovich signed late in 1997--four days before he was scheduled to enroll in classes at Notre Dame, where his father played basketball and his brother baseball. The Minnesota high school ranks in the 1990s are full of touted prospects who have floundered: Tom Nevers (Astros), Jamie Ogden (Twins), Chris Schwab (Expos) and Chris Weinke (Blue Jays), to name a few. Restovich's great debut indicates he could be the exception. Strengths: When asked Restovich's best position in the future, one Twins executive said "cleanup." He already has the best raw power in the system and has shown an early mastery of hitting to right center field and working the strike zone. Weaknesses: Restovich was a high school first baseman and is just learning the fundamentals of playing defense in the outfield. He needs plenty of repetitions on getting jumps on fly balls and getting his footwork set on throws. The Future: The Twins are hungry for power and having a Kent Hrbek-type native in the middle of their lineup is a potential added bonus. He should begin 1999 back in the Midwest League at Class A Quad City.

Minor League Top Prospects

After the Twins switched their Triple-A affiliate from the hitter-happy Pacific Coast League to the IL, Restovich struggled to the second-worst slugging percentage (.465) of his career and fell shy of 20 home runs for the first time in three seasons. Pitchers found and exploited holes in Restovich's swing when they weren't enticing him to chase pitches off the plate. A shorter swing and more disciplined approach could make a world of difference. "He needs to cut down on his strikeouts," Rochester manager Phil Roof said, "but nobody in the league had as much power as he does." Restovich has an average arm, runs well for his size and generally gets to everything. He can become an average left fielder. "He's a lumbering guy, but he makes all the plays," Parrish said. "He sneaks up on you. He's one of the tougher calls in the league, but I'd give him a chance right now. He's not going to be a stud, but he could play everyday."
While the consensus ranked Cuddyer slightly ahead of him, Restovich had plenty of supporters. Cuddyer is a safer pick, but Restovich has more power and is more athletic. Scouts compared him to Adam Dunn and Tim Salmon. As Russell mentioned, Restovich is still learning about his stroke and plate discipline. He strikes out too much and probably won't hit for average right away in the majors. His swing is fine but he must recognize offspeed pitches better. Like Cuddyer, Restovich plays hard and is a competent corner outfielder. He'll also have to be patient while waiting for a big league opening to develop.
Cuddyer wasn't the only Twins slugger who recaptured his power stroke at New Britain this year. Restovich isn't as disciplined as Cuddyer, but he may have more raw pop and he's a good athlete for his size. Always one for comparisons, Cliburn likened Restovich to former Twins outfielder Tom Brunansky. "He can really steal bases for a big man, and he has instincts on the basepaths," Cliburn said. "He has power from gap to gap, and he can hit the ball as hard to right field as anybody I've ever seen." "He's taken his time going through the system like Cuddyer has, but he's showing his power now," one scout said. "His power, too, is to the big part of the ballpark. He hasn't even learned to pull the ball yet."
Restovich has the size of a major leaguer, and some believe he's close to having a major league bat. He challenged for the batting title before finishing in sixth place. He has above-average power and placed fifth in the league in home runs. He also showed a knack for driving in runs, finishing second in RBIs. And he provided some punch with clutch hitting. He hit .387 with the bases full. "He has a big league body," Fields said. "He's durable and able to hit with power."