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Should the Phillies give Moniak, Maton, Sánchez more playing time?

By Bryce Turner |
Jun 12, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Mickey Moniak (16) walks back to the dugout after striking out against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 12, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Mickey Moniak (16) walks back to the dugout after striking out against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
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Mickey Moniak, Nick Maton, and Cristopher Sánchez appeared on the Philadelphia Phillies during the recent nine-game win streak; should they re-join the team?

The Philadelphia Phillies had a great start to June, with a nine-game win streak between June 1 and 11, including series sweeps over the Los Angeles Angels and the Milwaukee Brewers.

While much of the attention was placed on the change in clubhouse culture, with interim manager Rob Thomson replacing Joe Girardi on June 3, the win streak also saw some different names on the roster during that span – Mickey Moniak, Nick Maton, and Cristopher Sánchez.

The three Phillies were since sent back to the minors or placed on the injured list and the team has lost four of its last seven games. With some roster spots up in the air, should the Phillies give these three players more time with the big-league club?

Philadelphia Phillies OF Mickey Moniak

Outfielder Mickey Moniak, the Phillies’ first overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, made his first major league appearance of the 2022 season on the eve of the team’s win streak. He went 0-for-6 in two games against the San Francisco Giants to end the month of May.

Moniak got a bit better at the same time as the team, appearing in two games against the Angels and all three contests against the Brewers, going 3-for-11 (.273 BA), with an RBI and three walks.

While Moniak has an unimpressive .160/.250/.160 slash line in nine games with the Phillies, with no extra-base hits, he appeared to be finding at least some sort of rhythm, producing a hit in four of his last six games, with a plate appearance, before being optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on June 13.

The reason for his late-season debut was a hairline fracture in his right wrist, which he sustained during the delayed spring training. He had been awarded an opening day roster spot prior to the injury, so he would’ve started the season on the Phillies.

Moniak instead started on a rehab assignment with Single-A Clearwater, going 4-for-10, with a double, a triple, and two RBI in three games. He then went 9-for-23 (.391 BA), with three extra-base hits (including one home run) and six RBI in five games for Double-A Reading.

He looked stellar during rehab, so it was a good call to bring him up to the majors. However, with his early struggles, it was also good to see him get some time at Triple-A to improve his game.

Moniak slashed .313/.353/.604, with three HR and four RBI, in 11 games for Lehigh Valley, through Saturday’s game.

Defensively, Moniak has looked great, with a perfect fielding percentage so far this season, across all levels, after committing 10 errors in the minor leagues in four seasons between 2017 and 2021.

Odúbel Herrera, Matt Vierling, and Roman Quinn have been the Phillies’ primary center field options so far this year. They have a combined eight HR and 27 RBI in 109 games, with Vierling owning the best batting average of .239.

Quinn was designated for assignment at the start of June and elected free agency, giving the team one less option in the outfield.

While Herrera has been trending in the wrong direction offensively, Vierling has been trending upwards, batting .311, with three HR, in 15 games since being called up on June 7.

Despite Vierling being the hot hand, Moniak has shown, with improved offense and defense in the minors, that he deserves at least a chance to challenge for some major league playing time at center field.

With Bryce Harper suffering a fractured left thumb, after being hit by a pitch in Saturday’s game against the San Diego Padres, Moniak was recalled on Sunday. He did not appear in Sunday’s game but, despite the unfortunate circumstances, this is a good time to give him opportunities.

Jun 3, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Nick Maton (29) hits an RBI triple during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 3, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Nick Maton (29) hits an RBI triple during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Philadelphia Phillies IF Nick Maton

Infielder Nick Maton was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start the season.

The shortstop, second baseman, and third baseman didn’t do much to warrant a call-up in the month of April. He recorded four HR and 13 RBI in 19 games, but that came with a .177/.300/.427 slash line. He also hit five doubles and was walked 10 times.

Maton turned things around in the month of May, slashing .299/.411/.494, with 10 doubles, one HR, and 17 RBI in 22 games. He was walked 15 times and recorded his first stolen base of the season.

That turnaround earned him an opportunity on the Phillies when Jean Segura was placed on the injured list. Maton was called up to start at second base in the June 1 game against the Giants, which would ultimately become the start of the team’s win streak and the end of Girardi’s tenure as manager.

Maton had an instant impact, going 2-for-4 in the game, with an RBI bunt single and a two-run HR. He started the next game, against the Angels, going 1-for-2, with an RBI triple and a walk.

Unfortunately, the strong start to his major league season was met with injury, as he sat out the next game before being placed on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder sprain. The injury has kept him out longer than the minimum stay, with Rotowire listing his estimated return date as June 29.

With Segura on the 60-day injured list with a finger injury, rookie Bryson Stott has been the primary option at second base. He has a .164/.223/.274 slash line, with four HR and 20 RBI, in 46 games.

While Stott has not done well offensively, it’s unrealistic to believe that the Phillies won’t continue to give him opportunities as one of their top prospects entering the season.

Still, the month of May that Maton had and his two games with the Phillies were really impressive, so he should also be given playing time on the major league squad, regardless of how he does in a potential rehab assignment.

Philadelphia Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez

Left-handed pitcher Cristopher Sánchez started his 2022 season on the Phillies roster, making four relief appearances and one start between April 12 and May 8.

Sánchez struggled in all five games, giving up at least one run in each outing. He gave up a combined eight runs, off of 10 hits and six walks, in 12 1/3 innings.

Given his rough start, it was not surprising to see the Phillies option him to Triple-A at the beginning of May, when MLB rosters were reduced from 28 to 26 positions. He served as the 27th man when making his lone start a week later, which came in the second game of a doubleheader.

Sánchez made a relief appearance with Lehigh Valley, surrendering two runs in two innings, before looking much improved when he was moved to the starting rotation. He gave up one run in eight innings, between a pair of starts, while striking out nine.

Sánchez was recalled on June 1, making three relief appearances during the Phillies’ win streak. He pitched a perfect inning against the Giants and a perfect inning and a third against the Angels, with two strikeouts.

He then gave up two hits, while striking out a batter, in a scoreless inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the final game of the win streak. Despite the strong outings, he was optioned to Triple-A to open a spot for José Alvarado, who was sent to the minors following a 7.62 ERA in his first 17 games.

Sánchez has made three minor-league starts since the roster move, giving up one run in seven innings, while striking out eight. He did not walk a single batter.

The Phillies bullpen has continued to be an area of concern, with a 4.05 ERA and 1.367 WHIP so far this season.

Jeurys Familia has a 5.55 ERA in 27 games, while Nick Nelson has a 4.66 ERA in 19 games. Familia gave up seven runs in his last three outings, while Nelson recently gave up seven runs across three outings, though he did pitch 3 1/3 scoreless innings in Sunday’s game.

Surely the Phillies can find a reliever worth moving from the roster to give Sánchez an opportunity. The team placed Connor Brogdon on the COVID-related injured list on Friday, calling up Mark Appel to presumably make his major league debut after a long journey in the minors.

Even though relievers like Alvarado and Corey Knebel have looked better recently, with Nelson looking better in his most recent appearance, it’s still the Phillies bullpen. Given Sánchez’s recent track record, he should be given an immediate chance on the big-league squad.

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