After 16 games this season, NIU slugger Mike Santoro leads the Huskies with four home runs and 18 RBIs.

The outfielder missed nearly all of last season with a foot injury, but was still drafted by the San Francisco Giants.

The Northern Star caught up with Santoro to talk baseball, steroids and more baseball.

Northern Star: Last year you were drafted by the San Francisco Giants, but you decided to return to the Huskies, why?

Mike Santoro: It was all dictated by my injury. My foot wasn’t healthy all summer and the Giants knew that. They just wanted my rights, so I knew 100-percent that I was coming back.

NS: How does that work with them owning your rights when you’re done with NIU?

MS: There’s no guarantees. They have my rights and it’s up to the cross-checker when he comes out and watches me if they want to sign me before the draft. If I don’t like their offer I can go back into the draft and get picked up by anyone. I anticipate I’ll sign with them. I just want to play. I don’t want to play games or anything.

NS: What did you think about being drafted by the Giants?

MS: If you ask most players, they don’t care who they are drafted by, just as long as they are drafted. I heard a lot of good things about the organization.

NS: The big story in baseball is steroids. Are you going to read Jose Canseco’s book?

MS: Yeah, my brother has it. I’m going to read it when he’s done with it.

NS: What’s your feeling on whether or not there should be an asterisk next to records for guys like Mark McGwire or Barry Bonds if it is proven they took steroids?

MS: I think maybe, but if you look at it from the Olympic standpoint where they take medals away, that’s what I think. But then again they’re going to have a hard time doing that. There were no rules, it wasn’t illegal back then.

NS: Is your brother still playing in the minor leagues?

MS: No, he retired a year and a half ago. He had two groin surgeries.

NS: Did he ever tell you about stories of guys taking steroids?

MS: Yeah, him and all my buddies down in the minors – they know exactly who’s on them. My buddy with the Mariners told me there were guys in the minors taking them last year. My brother knew everybody in the majors on the Red Sox who were taking them.

NS: Fantasy baseball is getting started. If you had to make a fantasy starting nine, who would be on your team?

MS: In the outfield: Manny Ramirez, Vladimir Guerrero and Carlos Beltran. My infield would probably be Scott Rolen, at short Nomar [Garciaparra]. At second, I’d say Brett Boone, but he’s probably off the juice, so I’ll say [Alfonso Soriano]. At first Paul Konerko – I’ll give him a shot, I’m a White Sox fan. At catcher, A.J. Pierzynski. At pitcher, I’d start Randy Johnson.

NS: What’s your favorite sports movie?

MS: I like “Field of Dreams.”

NS: Do you think the Cubs are better with or without Sosa?

MS: For what they got I think they’re better with him.

NS: Who is your favorite hitter?

MS: It’s a toss-up between Manny Ramirez and Albert Pujols. They’re the most complete hitters in the game. They hit to all fields and that’s what I try to be like.

NS: Do you think college should convert to using wood bats and do you think that would help players make the transition to the major leagues where they use wood bats?

MS: Yes, definitely. I think it would help more because it is an adjustment. It’s a different swing. I try to hit with wood as much as I can – it’s a good practice tool. Bottom line is that I think it would be a good thing to go to wood.