• 2016 Draft signing and bonus tracker
"Great day for the Phillies today," Phillies director of amateur scouting Johnny Almaraz said. "We're very fortunate to have signed a very, very good baseball player and a high-character human being."
Moniak is the sixth outfielder to be selected first overall since 1986. The previous five are Bryce Harper (2010), Delmon Young ('03), Josh Hamilton (1999), Darin Erstad ('95) and Ken Griffey Jr. ('87). The Phillies selected Pat Burrell with the first overall pick in '98, although he was officially listed as a third baseman.
"It's slowly starting to sink in," Moniak said of being the No. 1 pick. "Just an honor to be a No. 1 Draft pick. There's one every year, and to be named with guys like that, guys who have solidified themselves in the big leagues -- that's the goal, to make the big leagues."
Moniak is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound left-handed hitter from La Costa Canyon (Calif.) High School. His stock started to rise last summer and continued to rise through the spring. He hit .476 with 12 triples, seven home runs, 46 RBIs and a .921 slugging percentage in his senior year. The Phillies scouted him extensively, with everybody from Pat Gillick to Charlie Manuel, two of the club's senior advisors, meeting with Moniak on more than one occasion.
Almaraz said Moniak has proven to be everything the scouts said.
"Very intelligent. He's a tremendous baseball player, but more than anything he's a very high character human being and for us that's key," Almaraz said.
Two sources told MLB.com that Moniak agreed to a $6.1 million signing bonus, which is under the $9,015,000 allotted for the pick. The Phillies will use the savings to sign second-round pick Kevin Gowdy, a right-hander who has committed to UCLA. The 42nd overall pick is allotted $1,536,200. Gowdy, who could agree as early as Tuesday, could receive in the neighborhood of $3 million.
Moniak is expected to begin his career with the Gulf Coast League Phillies.
"The time in between coming here and the Draft was a relaxing time -- just to take a step back and enjoy the time with my friends and family before I went away," Moniak said. "It was relaxing, but it's time to get after it. I'm excited to be here."
Cash Kruth is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cashkruth. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Meet Moniak: Phillies introduce No. 1 pick
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire