He graduated from high school in January 2009, a semester early, in order to enroll at UNC in time to play for the Tar Heels that February.
[3][5] Michael began his professional career in 2012 with the Fort Myers Miracle of the High-A Florida State League.
He began the 2014 season with Fort Myers, and received a midseason promotion to the New Britain Rock Cats of the Double-A Eastern League.
Michael spent the 2015 season with Minnesota's new Double-A affiliate, the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League, where he batted .267 with five home runs and 31 RBIs in 63 games.
[10] He played in 117 games split between the Double–A Richmond Flying Squirrels and Triple–A Sacramento River Cats, hitting a cumulative .240/.318/.384 with 10 home runs and 52 RBI.
[11] On January 28, 2020, Michael returned to the Minnesota Twins on a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training.