Mickey Moniak

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Mickey Moniak

| image = Moniak 3 61824 (cropped 2).jpg

| caption = Moniak with the Los Angeles Angels in 2024

| team = Colorado Rockies

| position = Center fielder

| number = 22

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|5|13}}

| birth_place = Encinitas, California, U.S.

| bats = Left

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 16

| debutyear = 2020

| debutteam = Philadelphia Phillies

| statleague = MLB

| statyear = June 13, 2025

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .231

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 39

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 123

| baseball_ref = m/moniami01

| teams =

Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2022}})
Los Angeles Angels ({{mlby|2022}}–{{mlby|2024}})
Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's baseball}}

{{MedalCountry | {{bb|USA}}}}

}}

McKenzie Matthew Moniak (born May 13, 1998) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Angels. The Phillies selected Moniak with the first overall pick of the 2016 MLB draft.

Amateur career

Moniak attended La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, California, and played center field for the baseball team.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/confidence-composure-define-moniak|title=Confidence, Composure Define Moniak|date=January 14, 2016|last=Belinsky|first=Hudson|publisher=Baseball America|work=baseballamerica.com|access-date=September 17, 2020}} As a sophomore, he batted .461 with two home runs, and 27 runs batted in (RBI).{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/high-school-preps/sdut-lcc-baseball-calhi-moniak-rb-2014jun26-story.html%3f|title=LCC's Mickey Moniak state's top soph|date=June 26, 2014|last=Maffei|first=John|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|access-date=September 18, 2020}} As a junior, in 2015, Moniak hit .426 with a 1.062 on-base plus slugging (OPS).{{cite web|url=http://usatodayhss.com/2016/gatorade-national-poy-watch-ucla-commit-mickey-moniak-living-up-to-legendary-first-name|title=Gatorade National POY Watch: UCLA baseball commit Mickey Moniak living up to legendary first name|date=April 21, 2016|publisher=USA Today|work=usatodayhss.com|access-date=September 17, 2020}} That August, he played in the Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/san-diego/story/two-local-prep-athletes-play-in-perfect-game-all-american-classic-081715|title=Two local prep athletes play in Perfect Game All-American Classic|date=August 17, 2015|last=Thiele|first=Brie|publisher=Fox Sports|work=foxsports.com|access-date=September 18, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://thecoastnews.com/jayparis-lccs-moniak-is-making-his-mark-off-the-diamond-too|title=LCC's Moniak is making his mark off the diamond, too|date=August 14, 2015|last=Paris|first=Jay|publisher=The Coast News|work=thecoastnews.com|access-date=September 17, 2020}}

In 2016, as a senior, Moniak batted .476 with a .961 slugging percentage and 40 runs, 12 triples (a San Diego Section record), seven home runs, and 46 RBI, in 29 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/mlb/sdut-mlb-first-year-player-draft-moniak-phillies-2016jun09-htmlstory.html|title=Phillies take La Costa's Moniak No. 1 in draft|date=June 9, 2016|last=Kenney|first=Kirk|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|access-date=May 6, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/amp/85655972|title=Phillies select Mickey Moniak with No. 1 pick of MLB draft|date=June 9, 2016|publisher=USA Today|work=usatoday.com|access-date=September 18, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.encinitasadvocate.com/sdea-lc-canyons-moniak-is-no-1-mlb-draft-pick-2016jun16-story.html|title=La Costa Canyon's Moniak is No. 1 MLB draft pick|date=June 16, 2016|last=Maffei|first=John|publisher=Encinitas Advocate|work=encinitasadvocate.com|access-date=September 18, 2020}} He was named Baseball America High School Player of the Year, Gatorade California Baseball Player of the Year, and San Diego Section Player of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mickey-moniak-adam-haseley-continuing-to-adjust-in-2018|title=Mickey Moniak, Adam Haseley Continuing To Adjust in 2018|date=March 25, 2018|last=Norris|first=Josh|publisher=Baseball America|work=baseballamerica.com|access-date=September 17, 2020}} Moniak committed to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to play college baseball for the UCLA Bruins.{{cite web|url=http://www.vavel.com/en-us/ncaa/456916-interview-mickey-moniak.html|title=Interview: Mickey Moniak, A UCLA Commit|date=February 28, 2015|last=Petzold|first=Evan|publisher=Vavel|work=vavel.com|access-date=September 17, 2020}}

Professional career

=Draft and minor leagues (2016–2019)=

The Philadelphia Phillies selected Moniak with the first overall pick of the 2016 MLB draft. On June 20, 2016, he signed with the Phillies after agreeing to a $6.1 million signing bonus.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/phillies-sign-top-draft-pick-mickey-moniak-c185191938|title=#1 pick Mickey Moniak signs with Phillies|date=June 20, 2016|last=Zolecki|first=Todd|publisher=Major League Baseball|work=MLB.com|access-date=June 20, 2016}}

Moniak made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Phillies in 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/gcs-186927472|title=Top Draft pick Moniak singles in pro debut| date=June 29, 2016|last=Parker|first=John|publisher=Minor League Baseball|work=MiLB.com|access-date=September 18, 2020}} He spent all of his first professional season there, batting .284/.340/.409 with 27 runs (10th in the Gulf Coast League), 11 doubles (tied for 9th), four triples (tied for 8th), one home run, 28 RBI (9th), and 10 stolen bases (9th), in 176 at bats.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/mickey-moniak-666160|title=Mickey Moniak Stats, Highlights, Bio|publisher=Minor League Baseball|work=MiLB.com|access-date=September 18, 2020}} Baseball America ranked Moniak the Number 17 prospect in baseball, and MLB.com ranked him Number 19.{{cite web|url=https://www.minorleagueball.com/2017/7/26/16027652/2016-top-pick-mickey-moniak-doing-just-fine|title=2016 top pick Mickey Moniak doing just fine|date=July 26, 2017|last=Feltman|first=Asher|publisher=SB Nation|work=minorleagueball.com|access-date=September 17, 2020}}

File:Mickey Moniak Lakewood.jpg

Moniak spent 2017 with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, with whom he batted .236/.284/.341 with six triples (tied for 5th in the South Atlantic League), five home runs, 44 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and seven sacrifice flies (tied for 2nd) in 466 at bats in 123 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/minorleaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=14&qual=y&type=0&season=2017&team=0&players=0&sort=9,d|title=South Atlantic (A) Leaderboards » 2017 » Batters » Standard Statistics|publisher=FanGraphs|work=fangraphs.com|access-date=September 17, 2020}} Baseball America named him the best defensive player of his draft class, the second-best pure hitter (behind Nick Senzel), the second-best high school player (behind Bo Bichette), and the high school player closest to making his major league debut.{{cite web|url= https://thatballsouttahere.com/2016/10/18/phillies-moniak-receives-high-praise|title=Phillies: Mickey Moniak Receives High-Praise From Baseball America|date=October 18, 2016|last=Stockburger|first=George|publisher=FanSided|work=thatballsouttahere.com|access-date=September 18, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/how-moniak-phillies-graded-out-baseball-americas-draft-report-card|title=How Moniak, the Phillies graded out in Baseball America's Draft report card|date=October 17, 2016|last=Lawrence|first=Ryan|publisher=PhillyVoice|work=phillyvoice.com|access-date=September 17, 2020}} Moniak spent the 2018 season with the Class A-Advanced Clearwater Threshers. He hit .270/.304/.383 with 28 doubles (second in the Florida State League), five home runs, 55 RBI, six stolen bases, and seven sacrifice flies (tied for 5th) in 433 at bats in 114 games.

In 2019, Moniak received an invitation to Phillies Major League spring training camp.{{cite web|url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/phillies-rumors-top-prospects-mickey-moniak-adam-haseley-bryce-harper-outfield-depth|title=Phillies first rounders Mickey Moniak, Adam Haseley inching ever closer to making big leagues|date=January 23, 2019|last=Macy|first=Evan|publisher=PhillyVoice|work=phillyvoice.com|access-date=February 22, 2019}} He played the 2019 season with the Reading Fightin Phils of the Class AA Eastern League, batting .252/.303/.439 with 63 runs (9th in the league), 28 doubles (6th), 13 triples (leading the league), 11 home runs, 67 RBI (tied for 4th), 111 strikeouts (10th), and 15 stolen bases in 18 attempts in 465 at bats.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=a4458bd5|title=2019 Eastern League Batting Leaders|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 4, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.readingeagle.com/sports/article/mickey-moniak-hopes-to-continue-rise-with-fightin-phils|title=Mickey Moniak hopes to continue rise with Fightin Phils|date=April 3, 2018|last=Romero|first=Mike|publisher=Reading Eagle|work=readingeagle.com|access-date=September 18, 2020}} Moniak was selected to play in the Eastern League All-Star Game midway through the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.readingeagle.com/sports/article/moniak-among-four-reading-players-named-to-all-star-team|title=Mickey Moniak among four Reading Fightin Phils players named to All-Star team|date=June 25, 2019|publisher=Reading Eagle|work=readingeagle.com|access-date=June 26, 2019}} He was chosen to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions following the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2019-arizona-fall-league-rosters-announced|title=2019 Arizona Fall League Rosters Announced|date=August 28, 2019|last=Norris|first=Josh|publisher=Baseball America|work=baseballamerica.com|access-date=October 4, 2019}}

=Philadelpha Phillies (2020–2022)=

On September 16, 2020, Moniak was added to the Phillies' 40-man roster, and was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/09/phillies-place-jake-arrieta-on-10-day-il.html|title=Phillies Place Jake Arrieta On 10-Day IL|date=September 16, 2020|last=Byrne|first=Connor|publisher=MLB Trade Rumors|work=mlbtraderumors.com|access-date=September 17, 2020}} That night, he made his MLB debut against the New York Mets as a ninth-inning pinch runner for Alec Bohm, at Citizens Bank Park.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI202009160.shtml|title=New York Mets 5, Philadelphia Phillies 4 Box Score|date=September 16, 2020|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=September 18, 2020}} On September 18, 2020, Moniak roped a line drive into right field, a single, for his first big league hit, in the second game of a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/phillies/mickey-moniak-first-hit-phillies-rookie|title=Mickey Moniak ropes first big-league hit vs. Blue Jays|date=September 18, 2020|last=Seidman|first=Corey|publisher=NBC Sports|work=nbcsports.com|access-date=September 18, 2020}}

On April 21, 2021, Moniak hit his first major league home run in the 2nd inning against Anthony DeSclafani of the San Francisco Giants.

After a strong spring training in 2022, it was announced that Moniak had made the Phillies' Opening Day roster. However, Moniak suffered a right hand fracture in the final exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Rays on a Ryan Yarbrough hit-by-pitch. He was instead placed on the injured list to begin the season, and was given a recovery timetable of six weeks.{{Cite web|title=Spring star Mickey Moniak out 6 weeks with broken right hand|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/phillies/mickey-moniak-broken-hand-phillies-opening-day-roster?amp|access-date=January 15, 2023|website=nbcsports.com|language=en}}

=Los Angeles Angels (2022–2024)=

On August 2, 2022, Moniak was traded alongside prospect Jadiel Sanchez to the Los Angeles Angels for starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard.{{cite news |title=Phillies trade for Thor, send Moniak to Angels |url=https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/noah-syndergaard-traded-to-phillies |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |date=August 2, 2022 |access-date=August 2, 2022}} He made his Angels debut the next day, going 0-for-2 against the Oakland Athletics. In his first week with the Angels, Moniak went 4-for-14 (.286) with a pair of home runs in five games. On August 6, during a game against the Seattle Mariners, Moniak injured his left middle finger while attempting to bunt. The following day, the injury was diagnosed as a fracture; however, he was not expected to miss the remainder of the season.{{cite news |title=Angels' Mickey Moniak: Breaks finger, not done for season |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/angels-mickey-moniak-breaks-finger-not-done-for-season/ |access-date=October 1, 2022 |work=CBSSports.com |publisher=Paramount Global |date=August 7, 2022}} He returned from the injury on September 9 and was platooned with Jo Adell.{{cite news |title=Angels' Jo Adell: Fades into platoon role |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/angels-jo-adell-fades-into-platoon-role/ |access-date=October 1, 2022 |work=CBSSports.com |publisher=Paramount Global |date=September 14, 2022}} On September 28, Moniak was hit on the hand by a pitch in a game against the Athletics. Although X-rays returned negative, the Angels placed him on the injured list, sidelining him for the final seven games of the season.{{cite news |title=Angels' Mickey Moniak: Placed on injured list |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/angels-mickey-moniak-placed-on-injured-list/ |access-date=October 1, 2022 |work=CBSSports.com |publisher=Paramount Global |date=September 29, 2022}} Between the Phillies and the Angels, Moniak finished the 2022 season batting .170 with three home runs and eight RBIs in 37 games.{{cite web |title=Mickey Moniak Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/moniami01.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=October 1, 2022}}

Moniak was optioned to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees to begin the 2023 season.{{cite web | title=Angels' Mickey Moniak: Optioned to Triple-A | website=CBSSports.com | date=March 24, 2023 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/angels-mickey-moniak-optioned-to-triple-a/amp/ | access-date=September 24, 2024}} He was recalled from Salt Lake on May 12, 2023, hitting .280 with 14 home runs and 45 RBIs in 85 games.{{cite web | last=Rotman | first=Zachary | title=LA Angels News: Mickey Moniak gets his shot, but the call-up doesn't make sense | website=Halo Hangout | date=October 27, 2021 | url=https://halohangout.com/posts/mickey-moniak-gets-his-deserving-shot-but-the-call-up-doesnt-make-sense | access-date=September 24, 2024}} In 2024, Moniak played in 124 games for the Angels, batting .219/.266/.380 with 14 home runs and 49 RBI.{{Cite web |title=Mickey Moniak Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/mickey-moniak-666160 |access-date=March 25, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} On March 25, 2025, he was released by the team.{{Cite web |date=March 25, 2025 |title=Angels release former No. 1 overall pick Moniak |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/44402901/angels-release-former-no-1-overall-pick-mickey-moniak |access-date=March 25, 2025 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

= Colorado Rockies =

On March 26, 2025, Moniak signed a one-year, $1.25 million contract with the Colorado Rockies.{{Cite web |date=March 27, 2025 |title=Angels castoff Moniak joins Rockies on 1-yr. deal |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/44423510/rockies-reach-one-year-deal-mickey-moniak |access-date=March 28, 2025 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

Personal life

Mickey Moniak's grandfather, Bill Moniak, played six years in the Boston Red Sox organization.{{cite web|url=http://web.usabaseball.com/article.jsp?ymd=20150624&content_id=132889130&vkey=news_usab|title=Throwback Moniak: San Diego's Mickey Moniak a hit as Brave tops United 2–0|date=June 24, 2015|last=Persinger|first=Mike|publisher=USA Baseball|work=usabaseball.com|access-date=September 18, 2020|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909101529/http://usabaseball.com/article.jsp?ymd=20150624&content_id=132889130&vkey=news_usab|archive-date=September 9, 2015}}