Phillies select Mickey Moniak with No. 1 overall pick

With the first overall pick in this year's draft, the Phillies have selected outfielder Mickey Moniak out of La Costa Canyon HS in Carlsbad, Calif. Prior to the draft, both Baseball America and ESPN had projected Moniak to be the Phillies' choice with the first overall pick, while MLB.com had Moniak at fourth overall to the Rockies.

Philadelphia's farm system is a bit light on outfielders, with only Nick Williams, Cornelius Randolph and Roman Quinn as the only three outfielders in MLB.com's listing of the team's top 10 prospects. Philadelphia does not have a sure-fire long-term answer in center, with Odubel Herrera and Peter Bourjos on the major-league roster at the moment.

A senior at La Costa Canyon, Moniak was one of the top-rated outfielders in this year’s draft. His athleticism makes scouts believe he is a long-term centerfielder, with an above average hit tool as well. The 6-foot-2, 18-year old is a UCLA commit.

Moniak is the sixth-overall prospect in this year's class, according to MLB.com’s Draft Prospect Watch while BA has him at fifth overall. He is widely regarded as one of the top three outfielders in the draft, along with Kyle Lewis and Corey Ray.

For an introduction to Moniak, check out our Chris Cotillo's recent Q&A with him.