Mike Foltynewicz was a member of the youth baseball team Minooka (IL) in 2004. The squad competed at Cooperstown Dreams Park during week 3 of the same year. A right-handed pitcher for Minooka Community High School's (Minooka, IL) varsity baseball team, Mike posted a 9-1 record with a 0.30 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 70 innings during his senior year (2010). Prior to the final season of his high school career, Mike committed to play at the University of Texas (Austin, TX). However, during the 2010 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, Mike was selected in the first round. He was the 19th pick, chosen by the Houston Astros. He decided to make the leap to the minor league. Mike's first assignment was with the Rookie League squad the Greenville Astros (Greenville, TN) in 2010. He spent 2011 and 2012 pitching for the Class A Lexington Legends (Lexington, KY).