5 Things You Need to Know About the Phillies’ Top Pick

Photo via @Phillies

Last night, the Phillies selected Mickey Moniak with the first overall pick in the MLB Draft. Moniak is just 18, so it will likely be a long time before he makes it to the major leagues. But you can still get excited about him now!

Here are five things you should know about the Phillies’ first top pick in the draft since Pat Burrell in 1998:

1. His grandfather was taught hitting by Ted Williams. Bill Moniak was the first “bonus baby” for the Boston Red Sox, signing with the team for $25,000 in 1958. As a minor leaguer in the Red Sox system, Bill Moniak once had Ted Williams as a hitting coach. Mickey Moniak said his grandfather passed along some advice from the Splendid Splinter: “He said you own the pitcher until you’ve got two strikes.” He told reporters last night that “it definitely influenced my game, my approach, how I hit and play baseball.”

2. Despite all his talent, he’s regarded as just a regular, team-first kid. This profile of Moniak on Scouting Baseball raves about him: He says he’d rather go 0-for-4 and win the game than go 4-for-4 and lose. “With all the hype around him and all the scouts that come to every practice and game, he’s always there team-first,” La Costa Canyon High School coach Justin Machado said. “He’s able to put that stuff aside. He’s really special.”

3. He made a Willie Mays-style catch in the Area Code Games. In an annual scout showcase for top prospects, Moniak made the biggest play last August. You can watch it here on Baseball America’s site. Almost 400 feet from home plate, Moniak turned around and caught a Jordan Wiley blast over his shoulder, Willie Mays-style. “I saw the ball had good flight off the bat,” he said. “I put my head down and ran full speed to my spot. I looked up at the last second and watched the ball fall into my glove.”

4. He’s already agreed to a deal with the Phillies. His father, Bill, told the San Diego Union-Tribune he agreed to sign with the Phillies before they took him with the first pick. Though the “slot” for the No. 1 overall pick is $9 million, he is believed to have signed for about $7 million.

5. He’s projected as a five-tool player. Moniak is kind of small, which is not typical of No. 1 overall picks, but Baseball America says scouts rave about every area of his game: He’s a great fielder, he did incredibly well in the baseball-rich San Diego area, and some even believe he can gain weight and build a power game. It’ll be a while before we know, but Phillies fans can dream.

Follow @dhm on Twitter.