The path to becoming a major league star is never easy. For former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Mickey Moniak, that was especially true
The Phillies drafted Moniak with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft out of high school. He would make his debut with Philadelphia in 2020, with horrific numbers.
In 47 games over three seasons with Philadelphia, Moniak slashed .129/.214/.172 with just one home run.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today talked to Moniak about his early-career struggles, and he seemed to take a subtle jab at his former organization for giving up on him too soon, while also acknowledging the situation Philadelphia was in.
What Did Moniak Say About the Philadelphia Phillies?
Moniak went from bona fide draft bust to a solid MLB player. That didn’t happen overnight and obviously took a lot of hard work. He was expected to star in the outfield alongside Bryce Harper, but that didn’t happen.
However, the Phillies didn’t give him much of a chance to get there.
“I didn’t really have the luxury, or I should say they didn’t have the luxury, of giving me a leash to go out there and maybe get 100 at-bats to figure it out,” Moniak said. “The most at-bats I got in a stretch was maybe 20. It was just tough to find a rhythm. But I totally understand the nature of this game and the business side of it. They put a lot of money into that organization and were in a win-now mode.
“I was trying to go 5-for-4 every game, trying to do way too much. I was getting caught up in my day-to-day performance instead of being patient, knowing the 162-game marathon is real.”
Because the organization was in win-now mode, Moniak had little chance to be an impact player in Philadelphia when he started to struggle.
What Happened Next?
In 2022, Philadelphia traded Moniak to the Los Angeles Angels for Noah Syndergaard. He would improve in Anaheim compared to his tenure in Philadelphia, but wasn’t quite there yet.
In three seasons with the Angels, Moniak slashed .242/.279/.430 with 31 home runs. The Angels released Moniak after the 2024 season, and he would latch on with the Colorado Rockies.
From there, his career took off. Since 2025, he has slashed .268/.306/.527 with 44 home runs. While the effect of Coors Field is certainly real for Moniak (1.027 OPS at home compared to .622 OPS away this season), he has effectively turned around his career.
With the Rockies, he earned a two-year, $16.25 million extension earlier this month, solidifying his tenure with Colorado.
Still in his age-28 season, Moniak can still change the narrative around him. While he likely will never live up to his No. 1 pick billing, he still can become a solid player.
Did Philadelphia give up on him too soon? That’s up for interpretation. However, Moniak is carving out a new path for himself with Colorado.
Phillies Former No. 1 Pick Criticizes Organization for Failure to Develop Him