Mickey Moniak, the first overall pick in the 2016 draft by the Phillies, has been named to his first minor-league All-Star team. Moniak is one of four players who will represent Double A Reading in the Eastern League All-Star Game on July 10 in Richmond.
Starting pitcher Adonis Medina, reliever Addison Russ and first baseman Darick Hall also got All-Star nods.
Moniak, still just 21 years old, has modest overall numbers this season. He's hit .268/.313/.442 with 18 doubles, eight triples and four home runs in 286 plate appearances. He continues to strike out about four times as much as he walks.
Lately, though, he's turned it on. Moniak has hit .309 with an .887 OPS in 22 June games. He's had multiple hits in four of his last six games.
The verdict is not in yet on Moniak. He does not look like a future superstar, but he still has enough time to develop as a hitter and add muscle. Gaining strength certainly helped Scott Kingery from Year 1 to Year 2 in the majors and Moniak should benefit from it as he continues to grow into his 6-foot-2 frame.
The Phillies badly need Moniak to pan out. Cornelius Randolph, their first-round pick the prior year, still has not hit the way he was expected to. None of Nick Williams, Roman Quinn or Dylan Cozens has turned into a difference-maker at the major-league level. Adam Haseley is on the big-league roster but sidelined another few days by a groin injury. The Phillies' outfield depth has been tested and they simply need good hitters to graduate through the farm system, even if just to use them in a trade.
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