PRO BASEBALL / MIKE HISERMAN : Milstien Tries Positioning Self for Final Jump

David Milstien is undisputed MVP of the Pawtucket (R.I.) Red Sox of the triple-A International League.

If not the team’s most valuable player, then certainly he is their most versatile.

Milstien, a 1986 graduate of Simi Valley High, is a part-time starter at all four infield positions. He also serves as the Red Sox’s third-string catcher and as a mop-up relief pitcher.

Twice in April, Milstien was called in to pitch with Pawtucket on the short end of lopsided scores. His composite line: 2 1/3 innings, four hits, two walks, two hit batters and six earned runs.

A career .237 hitter in his eighth minor league season, Milstien may never have Jose Canseco-like numbers as a hitter, but he seems to be comparable with the Texas Rangers’ star as a pitcher. And he claims to be better on defense.

“At least I haven’t had a fly ball hit me in the head and bounce over the fence for a home run,” Milstien said.

Milstien does his bouncing around the Pawtucket infield. He no longer bothers to claim a regular position.

“I don’t know what would be normal for me,” he said by telephone from Columbus, N.Y. “I don’t think I’m normal anymore.”

If there is a bright side to Milstien’s utility role, it is that it keeps him on his toes. “You don’t get in a rut playing one position,” he said. “It’s something new to think about every day.”

Milstien, who is batting .267, says he doesn’t care where he plays, just as long as he plays.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to get up there,” he said, referring to the major leagues. “Any position is fine with me. I just want to be in the lineup.”

Milstien has even been working on his pitching.

“One of my problems was that I only had two pitches,” he said. “Now I’ve got my knuckleball. I was throwing it the other day and the coach said, ‘Hey, you’ve got a pretty good one.’ I’ve got the ‘go’ now. They’re going to let me use it.”

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Matt Franco probably never will be considered a home run slugger, but he is fast on his way to earning a reputation as a power hitter.

“When I try to hit home runs, I go in the tank,” said Franco, first baseman for the Orlando Cubs. “So I’m not trying.”

And he is hitting them anyway.

Franco, a 1987 graduate of Westlake High, is batting .333 and already has clouted a career-high seven home runs. His batting average and 20 doubles are tops in the double-A Southern League and his 35 runs batted in rank fifth in the league.

This after he batted .215 for Winston-Salem of the Class-A Carolina League only two years ago.

Franco attributes the turnaround to greater confidence. “For the first time, I know I belong here and that I can do this,” Franco said. “Before, I always thought I could hit, but I never did.”

Last season for double-A Charlotte (N.C.), Franco batted .283--his highest average since 1988 when he batted .392 in rookie ball. However, he had only two homers, 18 doubles and 31 RBIs.

Now he is on a pace which he hopes will result in a season of 15 home runs, 50 doubles and 80 RBIs.

“My No. 1 goal is the 50 doubles,” Franco said. “I figure when I get to the big leagues, I’m not going to hit 30 or 40 home runs like some guys, but I can hit doubles with anyone.

“As long as I’m getting extra-base hits and driving in runs, those are good enough power numbers for me.”

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Short hops: Pat Bryant, a 1990 graduate of Cleveland High, leads the Cleveland Indians’ organization with 21 stolen bases. Bryant, an outfielder who plays for Columbus (Ga.) of the Class-A South Atlantic League, is batting .224 but making the most of his baserunning opportunities. . . .

Also at Columbus, former Cal State Northridge and Simi Valley High star Scott Sharts is 2-1 with a 2.96 earned-run average. Sharts, a setup man and part-time closer, has appeared in 21 of the RedStixx’s 59 games, giving up 23 hits and 19 walks with 21 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings. He has four saves. . . .

David Eggert, a starter for Northridge two years ago, has become a top-flight reliever in the Montreal Expos’ organization. Eggert, a left-hander, had a 4-2 record, 2.08 ERA, eight saves and 72 strikeouts in 48 innings last season after joining the Expos’ affiliate in Jamestown (N.Y.) of the Class-A New York-Penn League. This season, he has struck out 29 and given up 19 hits in 22 1/3 innings for the Burlington (Iowa) Bees of the Class-A Midwest League. In five appearances, he has four saves.