Phillies think Moniak fits bill
Resurgent team grabs outfielder with No. 1 pick
SECAUCUS, N. J. The last five years have been mostly barren ones for the Philadelphia Phillies. Once perennial contenders, they have not had a winning record since 2011. In the midst of that, their farm system languished, too.
But the last few months have been kind for the organization. The end of the Ruben Amaro Jr. era brought prospects to restock for the long haul. And after Amaro was fired last fall, Matt Klentak, the new general manager, was charged with turning around the franchise.
Thursday night provided the Phillies the latest opportunity to build a new foundation. After a 63-win season last year, they held the first overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft. At 7:12 p.m., they selected Mickey Moniak, an 18-year-old center fielder from La Costa Canyon (Calif.) High School.
“We believe Mickey was the best player available in the draft,” Phillies scouting director Johnny Almaraz said in a statement. “He’s a true center fielder with incredible offensive ability and potential to be a perennial All-Star.”
Moniak, who has drawn comparisons to two-time All- Star Steve Finley, could be a linchpin of the next generation of Phillies stars. Their only other No. 1 pick in franchise history was Pat Burrell in 1998.
Burrell eventually was a part of the 2008 World Series-winning team. Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels were all Phillies draft picks. Now, the Phillies are again in the position to hope they can rebuild from the bottom.
“It’s going to take time,” Ed Wade, a special assistant for the club and the GM who drafted those past stalwarts, told USA TODAY Sports. “I don’t think any- body at this stage believes that the club that’s on the field right now is necessarily going to be the one that could become the core nucleus for years and years. But there’s certain key elements in place right now, and if events like tonight pay off, then it could happen sooner than later.”
High school talents such as Moniak were popular at the top of the draft. Ian Anderson, a right-handed pitcher from New York, went third overall to the Atlanta Braves. Riley Pint, a right-hander from Kansas, went fourth to the Colorado Rockies. Nick Senzel, a third baseman from the University of Tennessee, went second to the Cincinnati Reds.
Anderson was the first player taken who watched the draft from the MLB Network studio here.
“It was better than expected,” he said. “I was nervous. I was shaking I was so excited. It was great.”
A.J. Puk was the first college pitcher taken, going sixth to the Oakland Athletics. “A lefty I love everything about,” eight-time All- Star Pedro Martinez said. “This kid has no ceiling.”
Just as conspicuous was the player not taken in the top 10. Jason Groome, a 17year-old lefty from Barnegat (N.J.) High School, once was projected to be the top overall pick thanks to a fastball that sat in the low to mid 90s and perhaps the draft’s best curveball.
The Boston Red Sox stopped his fall with the 12th pick, hoping his talent would supersede the warts that let him slip to them. But those in Groome’s inner circle think he could be in the majors soon.
“From a consistency, from a smoothness, from a projectability, I think Jay can be in the majors and will be in the majors by 20,” Kevin Schneider, one of Groome’s personal coaches, told USA TODAY Sports.
Moniak had a new home while Groome waited. And Moniak thinks one skill will stand out above all others for him in Philadelphia.
“I’d say my hit tool,” he said. “Who doesn’t love to hit?”