Moniak, the top pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, finished strong last season and has been invited to Phillies spring training for the first time.
The Phillies announced on Friday night that they have extended Spring Training invitations to eight of their prospects. Headed to Clearwater, Florida with the team next month will be:
Malquin Canelo, INF
Tyler Gilbert, LHP
Adam Haseley, OF
Cole Irvin, LHP
Austin Listi, INF/OF
Mickey Moniak, OF
JoJo Romero, LHP
Four of these prospects are among the top ten in the Phillies organization per rankings at MLB Pipeline: Haseley (4), Romero (5), Moniak (6), and Irvin (10), with Irvin and Gilbert the only two from this group of spring invitees to reach the Triple-A level.
This can be a valuable learning experience for the prospects, and in rare cases such as Scott Kingery last season, it could lead to a nice contract and a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Irvin has the best chance out of this group to make it all the way through camp and onto the big-league roster. The 24-year-old went 14-4 with a 2.57 ERA for Lehigh Valley in 2018. The Phillies don’t have a left-handed starter on the roster at this time, making him a dark-horse rotation candidate should the club fail to land on via trade or free agency.
Keep an eye on Gilbert as well, since a lefty out of the bullpen is something that is always valued. The 25-year-old may not go north to Philadelphia when the season opens, but you could see him at some point in 2019 if he continues to prove effective.
Moniak, the former first overall pick from the 2016 MLB amateur draft, had a nice ending to his season a year ago when he hit .311 in August and .400 in September. Still just 20-years-old, it will be good for his development to see at-bats against Major League pitching.
Haseley was the club’s first round draft pick at eighth overall in 2017. He will get a chance to showcase his skills in front of the big-league staff which should benefit him greatly, as there is a chance we could see him sometime in 2019 if the Phillies move some outfielders for pitching.
MORE PROSPECT NEWS FROM PHILLIES NATION:
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- Phillies nab Jackson, lose no one in Rule 5 draft
- Would the Phillies actually trade top prospect Sixto Sanchez?
- Josh Bonifay named as new Phillies farm director
- Scouts believe that former top pick Moniak will break out in 2019
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