:Mike Tonis

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Mike Tonis

| image =

| caption =

| position = Catcher

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|2|9}}

| birth_place = Sacramento, California, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = June 20

| debutyear = 2004

| debutteam = Kansas City Royals

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = June 24

| finalyear = 2004

| finalteam = Kansas City Royals

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .000

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 0

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 0

| teams =

Kansas City Royals ({{By|2004}})

}}

Michael Timothy Tonis (born February 9, 1979){{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ko/mike-koutsantonakis-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418071911/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ko/mike-koutsantonakis-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |accessdate=18 July 2012}} is a Greek-American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals.

Career

Tonis attended Elk Grove High School and was drafted in the 52nd round of the {{By|1997}} Major League Baseball draft by the New York Mets, but did not sign, instead choosing to attend the University of California. In 1998, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star.{{cite web|author= |url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |date= |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://master.v2.capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ftp/archives/Arc1998/east_allstars.htm |title=Cape Cod Baseball League 1998 All-Star Teams |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=May 6, 2020}} The Royals drafted him again in the 2nd round of the {{By|2000}} draft and he did sign. Tonis's best season was {{By|2001}}, when he batted .264 with 12 home runs and 61 RBI with the Single-A Wilmington Blue Rocks and Double-A Wichita Wranglers. Prior to the 2002 season, Tonis suffered multiple injuries, which sidelined him for most of the season. When he returned, he was hit in the jaw with a pitch while rehabbing, and was forced to have his jaw wired shut. He was called up from Double-A Wichita in {{By|2004}} to make his major league debut on June 20. He played his last game on June 24 before being sent back down to Double-A. He has not played for an MLB affiliated team since.

Tonis joined the Greek baseball team for the 2004 Athens Olympics. Mike played for Greece and used his complete Greek name which is Michael Koutsantonakis. As was the case with many Greek immigrants to America, Mike's grandfather abbreviated his original Greek last name to an easier to pronounce and spell "Americanized" name.

After the Athens 2004 Olympics, Mike continued to be an active roster player for the Greek National Baseball Team. He played for Greece in the 2008 European Qualifier Cup in Abrandes, Portugal; in the 2010 European Seniors Championship in Stuttgart, Germany; and in the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup in Panama.

References

External links

{{baseballstats|mlb=408223|espn=6004|br=t/tonismi01|fangraphs=2083|brm=tonis-001mic}}

[http://www.kffl.com/player/10799/MLB KFFL]
[http://www.royalsreview.com/2009/2/9/753668/remembering-former-royal-m Remembering Mike Tonis - Royals Review]

Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:American people of Greek descent

Category:Sportspeople of Greek descent

Category:Baseball players from Sacramento, California

Category:Major League Baseball catchers

Category:Kansas City Royals players

Category:California Golden Bears baseball players

Category:Baseball players at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic baseball players for Greece

Category:Greek baseball players

Category:Omaha Golden Spikes players