Scout believes Mickey Moniak will break out in 2019

While Philadelphia 76ers fans wrestle with the disappointing returns that they’ve received from former No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz thus far, the Philadelphia Phillies hope that former No. 1 overall pick Mickey Moniak’s third full season in the organization will be the year that he begins to establish himself as one of the top overall prospects in their organization.

One scout told Bob Brookover of The Philadelphia Inquirer that he thinks just that will happen to Moniak, 20, as he reaches Double-A Reading:

“He is going to be a breakout guy in 2019 at Reading. I don’t know if they’ll start him at Reading, but I think you’re going to start seeing numbers from him next season.”

As I explained last week, when I appointed Moniak a breakout candidate in 2019, there’s a plethora of reasons to believe this could become reality. Moniak was hot down the stretch, hitting .286 in the second half of the 2018. He will also benefit from playing in Reading, where the likes of Ryan Howard, Rhys Hoskins, Scott Kingery, and most recently Adam Haseley, all put themselves on the map as serious offensive threats.

Kingery, for example, saw a power explosion at FirstEnergy Stadium. After hitting five home runs in 531 at-bats between Single-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading in 2016, Kingery broke out in his most extended experience at Double-A Reading in 2017, slashing .313/.379/.608 with 18 home runs, 44 RBIs and a .987 OPS in 278 at-bats in 69 games with the Fightin Phils. That stretch propelled Kingery to Triple-A before the season was up, and also went a long way in the Phillies rewarding the former second-round pick with a six-year contract before he ever played a game at the major league level.

After slashing an underwhelming .254/.272/.321 in the first-half of the 2018 season, Moniak slashed .286/.332/.442 in the second-half for Single-A Clearwater. Moniak was the No. 1 overall pick in a year that lacked a consensus on who should be selected first overall. But there’s reason to think he could breakout in 2019.

More From Phillies Nation

1. Andy MacPhail On Free-Agency: You’re Not Going To Throw Every Resource At This Year
2. The Clock Is Ticking For Nolan Arenado, Something The Phillies Should Monitor
3. Could Scott Kingery Play Shortstop In 2019? The Phillies Seem To Think So
4. Klentak: Gabe Kapler Learned This Year That Perception Matters
5. Kingery, Franco, Alfaro And The Delicate Balance Between Potential And Performance
6. Manny Machado Asked Carlos Santana About Phillies, Has Some Interest In Signing With Club
7. Chase Utley’s Impact On Dodgers Remains Strong
8. Phillies Roundtable: Would Harper Or Machado Be A Better Signing? 
9. Phillies Expected To Make A Push For Japanese Southpaw Yusei Kikuchi
10. Phillies Nation Mailbag: What Under-The-Radar Free-Agent Options Should Be Considered?