Phillies: Mickey Moniak continues to hit for Reading
The Phillies former number one pick is heating up down in Reading.
Some Phillies fans wrote off prospect Mickey Moniak just two years into his professional career after he stumbled out of the gate. It’s not like the teenage number one overall pick had a lot of pressure riding on him, though.
After hitting .253 between 2017-18 Moniak has come out hot to start the 2019 season with the Reading Fightin’ Phils. Though hitting just .278 in his first nine games, Moniak has four multi-hit games and more hits than games played.
Moniak picked up his fourth multi-hit game Monday night and added on a stolen base, and is hitting .312 in his last four games with a walk and three strikeouts.
Still early in the season, Moniak leads Reading in hits, doubles, and home runs. He’s playing in an outfield with fellow first round picks Adam Haseley and Cornelius Randolph, both of whom are hitting .200 or worse to start the season.
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Many see Haseley and Moniak eventually clashing when big league ready as Philadelphia moves into a new era behind Bryce Harper. Knowing that Mike Trout won’t take a spot away from either in center field in two years keeps open the possibility of both being contributors to the big league club someday, but we’re still many years away from that.
For now, let’s enjoy the rise of Moniak through his struggles as a teenage professional baseball player to a prospect seemingly on the rise. His ceiling isn’t as lofty as other top picks, but scouts have placed comparisons on him such as Christian Yelich, the reigning MVP.
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Moniak is still years away, but the prospect of having him patrol center field in a couple of years is exciting, especially if he continues to hit.