Michael Timothy Tonis is single...graduated from Elk Grove (Calif.) High School in 1997...named male athlete of the year, was a 2-time All-Delta League selection and 3-time team MVP.
Earned a Junior Olympic gold medal in the summer of 1995 with the Nor Cal Angels...also played on a USA team that won a gold medal in a Goodwill Series in Japan and China.
Played collegiately at the University of California...ranks 4th on Cal's all-time career home run list (40) and slugging percentage list (.611)...also ranks 6th in total bases (367), 7th in RBI (140) and 8th in career doubles (44).
Named as a 1st team All-Pac 10 selection and honorable mention All-American as a sophomore after hitting .384 with 17 homers.
Played all 9 positions against UC Davis on May 4, 1999...earned the save after striking out 2 of the 3 batters he faced.
Was an All-Pac 10 selection following his junior year after leading the Bears with a .329 average, 70 hits and 20 doubles...also hit 13 homers and drove in 47 runs...named as a semifinalist for the inaugural Johnny Bench National Collegiate Catcher of the Year award.
Spent the summer of 1999 with the USA National Team...batted .310 (27-for-87) with 6 doubles, a triple, 8 home runs, 22 RBI and a .678 slugging percentage.
2003
Played 87 games with Wichita (AA), where he hit .238 (73-
307) with 18 doubles, 2 home runs and 24 RBI...Batted .289 (24-83) against left-handed pitchers.
2002
Missed the majority of the season after undergoing right shoulder surgery (labrum repair) on March 15...returned to rehab play on Aug. 16 for Gulf Coast and played in 6 games.
Was hit by a fastball in the jaw on Aug. 22, fracturing his jaw and ending his season...had his jaw wired shut for 3 weeks.
2001
Tonis started the season with Wilmington (A)...batted .252 in 33 games before moving to Wichita (AA).
Hit .364 (4-for-11) in 3 Texas League playoff games vs. Arkansas...stroked an RBI single in the 8th inning to lift Wichita to a 5-4 win in Game 3, the Wranglers only win of the series.
Minor League Notes
Tonis spent most of his 1st pro season with Charleston (A) after being taken in the 2nd round of the 2000 June Free Agent Draft.
Received a late-season promotion to Omaha (AAA), becoming the only player from the 2000 draft to play in Class AAA.
