June 20, 2016
MaxPreps/YouTube
The Phillies agreed to terms to 2016 No. 1 overall pick Mickey Moniak on Monday afternoon. The recent high school graduate will be introduced at a press conference at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday.
The Phillies didn't waste much time in getting Mickey Moniak onto a baseball field this summer.
The team announced that it had come to terms with the recent San Diego-area high school graduate following a 3-1 defeat to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday afternoon. Moniak was selected by the Phillies with the No. 1 overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft just 11 days ago.
Jim Callis of MLBPipeline.com reported that Moniak's signing bonus was $6.1 million, which is nearly $3 million under the recommended slot value for the draft's top pick. But it's also not unusual: last year's top pick, Dansby Swanson, signed for $6.5 million.
Done deal. ✍ pic.twitter.com/uocE1bI7rZ
— Phillies (@Phillies) June 20, 2016
The money the Phillies saved in signing Moniak under slot would allow them to pay over slot for their second-round pick, right-handed pitcher Kevin Gowdy, and for their third round pick, infielder Cole Stobbe. Paying above slot for both Gowdy and Stobbe would keep them from honoring college commitments to UCLA and Arkansas, respectively.
General manager Matt Klentak said on Friday that the team could announce deals with each of their top three picks this week.
“That’s the hope,” Klentak said. “But I think that’s realistic.”
Moniak will be officially introduced into the Phillies organization at a 2 p.m. press conference at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday by amateur scouting director Johnny Almaraz. Moniak will then likely report to the team's spring training facilities in Clearwater, Fla., to begin his summer program, which could eventually land him at short-season Williamsport.
The Phillies raved about the 18-year-old outfielder's hitting ability after they drafted him on June 9.
"He was the best player in the country. ... I believe one day he will hit anywhere between 15 and 22 home runs (in the big leagues)," Almaraz said. "I think you'll have a Gold Glove centerfielder who will hit in the middle of the lineup and be a leader on the team. ... He’s somebody in my eyes who can play center field probably in the big leagues right now. His ability to hit the baseball is above everybody else in the country right now and his defensive ability is about a 70 as far as our grades are concerned."
Follow Ryan on Twitter: @ryanlawrence21
