Minor-league week in review: Mickey Moniak begins rehab assignment

Mickey Moniak is a former No. 1 overall pick. (Cheryl Pursell)

After breaking his right hand in his team’s final exhibition game before the 2022 Major League Baseball season, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Mickey Moniak returned to the field in the latest week of the minor-league season.

The former No. 1 overall pick began a rehab assignment with the Low-A Clearwater Threshers on Friday.

The Threshers are now 21-17; the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws are 13-24; the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils are 17-22; the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs are 23-19.

Moniak’s strong start in rehab

The 23-year-old Moniak started off his rehab in Clearwater in style, hitting a triple and a double in his first regular-season game of the year on Friday. He started again on Saturday and Sunday, singling in both games. He played a game at all three outfield spots for the Threshers.

The injury to Moniak’s hand derailed his first real chance for consistent playing time in the majors, but he could be on the path heading back to the big leagues. Phillies manager Joe Girardi said Moniak will move up to Reading this upcoming week to continue his rehab assignment, as reported by Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

O’Hoppe stays hot for Fightins

Reading catcher Logan O’Hoppe had about as hot a week as they come on his way to the Eastern League Player of the Week Award. He hit five home runs in a six-game series as Somerset and tallied 11 hits in the week.

After hitting a walk-off home run last Sunday, O’Hoppe kept things rolling on the road. He batted .550 in the week and blasted two home runs on Tuesday.

O’Hoppe is now batting .304 with eight home runs and a 1.003 OPS in 33 games this season.