Former top pick Moniak demoted one more time
PHILADELPHIA » The Phillies optioned underachieving centerfielder Mickey Moniak to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to “find his swing.”
Replacing Moniak, the first pick in the 2016 amateur draft, was Yairo Munoz, a 27-year-old infielder who batted .319 with five home runs and 22 RBIs in 45 games with Lehigh Valley.
Munoz got the start at second base Tuesday against the Miami Marlins.
While Moniak didn’t appreciate being sent back to the minors, he didn’t make much of an argument to stay in the bigs. He had just four hits, one RBI and two runs scored in 25 at-bats.
“He was disappointed and I’m glad for that,” manager Rob Thomson said. “He wants to be here, he wants to play, he cares. He’s a great teammate. Yeah, he was disappointed but knowing Mickey, he’s a pro, and he’s going to go down there and do his work. If he goes down and finds his swing fairly quickly, we’ll see where we’re at.”
The official narrative in pushing Moniak to the side was that the Phillies needed an infielder with a right-handed bat, what with Jean Segura injured. Munoz checks both of those boxes. Outfielder Matt Vierling, a righthanded hitter, is the emergency fix right now at second base.
“Coming up in the next week we’re going to get more lefthanded pitchers,” Thomson said. “With the two left-handed hitting centerfielders, it’s been a little bit of a struggle to get them all atbats. Especially with Mickey, who’s young. He hasn’t really had every day at-bats, so it’s kind of unfair to him. We just want him to go down, get his swing back, start staying on the ball, use the field. He’s been pulling off a little bit and he knows that.”
Thomson likes everything about Munoz, from defense to baserunning to providing a right-handed bat.
Through an interpreter, Munoz, who spent two seasons with the Cardinals and parts of two with the Red Sox, said he was eager to take advantage of his chance.
“I’m super, super, super happy to the organization for the opportunity of being here,” Munoz said. “I’m extremely happy to be sharing the clubhouse with people like (Bryce) Harper, (J.T.) Realmuto, (Jose) Alvarado. It’s a great group of players. I was working really hard in Triple-A. I was focused on hitting, trying to control the strike zone, just swinging at good pitches. All I want to do is come here and try to help the team win in any way possible. My job is not only to do well but keep the energy going.”
With infielders Johan Camargo (knee) and Nick Maton (shoulder) close to returning, Munoz would be wise to make the most of his chance, which is exactly what Vierling did in showing he could play second.
“He’s played both corners, second base, he’s playing centerfield tonight,” Thomson said of Vierling. “(He had a) big stolen base last night to put us in a spot to win the game. He’s got a lot of value for us.”
•••
The Phillies transferred Segura from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Munoz.
Segura broke his right index finger while hit by a pitch trying to bunt a couple of weeks ago.
Speaking of injuries, though closer Corey Knebel hasn’t pitched since feeling a twinge in his shoulder
Saturday, it’s not like he’s undergone an MRI for it. Not as far as Thomson knows, at least.
•••
Thomson said the Phillies are using the curveball machine that became a subject of scorn and ridicule back when former manager Gabe Kapler introduced it. Thomson was with the Phils then.
“If you want to make fun of me go ahead,” Thomson said. “Our guys like it, and it seems to be helping them. Guys have taken to it. There’s some velocity to it so it’s not actual game-like but it’s as close as we can get.”
•••
Kyle Gibson and the Phillies take on Pablo Lopez and the Marlins at 1 p.m. Wednesday. The Phils hit the road right after for a three-game series with the Washington Nationals that begins Thursday. The Nationals were 23-40 with two straight losses entering their game with the Atlanta Braves (35-27) Tuesday.