Former Phillies top pick Mickey Moniak can’t seem to catch a break.
One of only two first overall draft picks in Philadelphia Phillies history, recently traded outfielder Mickey Moniak had a spring training to remember earlier this year down in Clearwater.
Across 15 games and 37 plate appearances, the California native slashed .378/.378/.973 with four doubles, six home runs, and 11 RBI. Moniak had all but secured the starting center field role before difficult news struck — the outfielder suffered a fracture of his right hand in the final exhibition game before Opening Day.
Moniak told reporters that he believed he would be able to “pick up where he left off” after his strong spring, yet that ultimately never happened. Not making his season debut until May 30, Moniak went on to slash .130/.184/.152 in 18 games and 50 plate appearances, before the Phillies traded him and a prospect to the Los Angeles Angels last week for right-handed pitcher Noah Syndergaard.
The 24-year-old’s 2022 season was delayed due to injury, and, unfortunately, it looks like it will end early due to injury.
https://twitter.com/Angels/status/1556116916191858697
Playing in his fourth and fifth games with the Angels on Saturday, as part of a doubleheader, Moniak was their only bat to show up in Game 1 — producing an RBI single in the team’s 2-1 loss.
In Game 2, Moniak slugged his second home run of the season. Already, he logged a pair of home runs in 15 plate appearances as a Halo — after only homering once in 105 plate appearances in red pinstripes.
In the top of the ninth of the latter game, Moniak was hit on his finger yet still singled on a bunt attempt. The next half-inning, he was substituted out to have X-rays taken. According to Angels interim manager Phil Nevin, the initial prognosis is not good and he “isn’t expecting good news” regarding the outfielder, reports SoCal News Group’s Jeff Fletcher.
Phillies second baseman Jean Segura recently returned to the Phillies lineup after being sidelined for two months with a fractured finger. He, too, was attempting for a bunt single. If Moniak’s injury compares — and given the Angels are out of the postseason picture — his third big-league season has sadly come to an end.