Rockies’ Moniak Crafts a Happy Ending to his Draft Story

It’s been 10 years since the Philadelphia Phillies selected Mickey Moniak with the No. 1 pick in MLB’s first-year player draft, and some details remain seared in his memory over time. After a high school graduation rehearsal in the morning, Moniak settled in at his aunt’s house in Carlsbad, Calif., with 150 friends and family members to watch his future play out on the MLB Network. He didn’t have to wait long.

“It’s a day I'll never forget,’’ Moniak said. “I had an idea it possibly could happen, but it wasn’t until five or six minutes before the draft that we knew for sure. I had to go sit in my seat because of the cameras. My dad came in and gave me a wink, and I kept looking back at him because I didn't believe it. It was pretty surreal.’’

The following day, Moniak received his La Costa Canyon High School diploma while wearing a graduation cap adorned with a Phillies logo. The Phillies sent him to their Gulf Coast League affiliate in Florida in late June, and the journey was under way.

As time wore on, Moniak came to the realization that persistence and the ability to handle failure are every bit as important as bat speed and plate discipline in the ascent of a professional hitter. After dealing with the inevitable growth pains in the minors, Moniak hit .129 over 47 games in Philadelphia before the Phillies sent him to the Angels in a trade for pitcher Noah Syndergaard in 2022. He hit 28 homers over two seasons in Anaheim before being released at the end of spring training in 2025.

Here’s where the story takes a positive turn -- and Moniak is rewarded for his perseverance. At age 28, he’s found a home and a comfort zone with the Colorado Rockies as the team’s resident lefty masher in the outfield. After launching 24 home runs in 135 games in 2025, he has 15 homers and is flirting with a .600 slugging percentage this season while playing primarily against right-handed pitching.

The portfolio is impressive enough that Moniak’s name has popped up as both an All-Star “snub’’ and a potential target for contenders in search of left-handed power as the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaches.

“He’s a grinder,’’ Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters during a series at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia in May. “He gets after it every day. For me, it’s no wonder he’s doing the things he’s doing. He’s a really good hitter and a really, really good hitter against right-handed pitching, specifically.”

Moniak, who has always exuded a maturity and perspective beyond his years, derived some valuable life lessons and filed them away for future reference amid all those setbacks along the way.

“Not everyone’s path is the same,’’ he said. “With some people, it clicks instantly. For me, it took some experience, some learning, some time to get comfortable at the big league level. The No. 1 thing I try to stay true to is to just keep putting one foot in front of the other, having faith in the good Lord above, and just keep playing. I’ve loved the game of baseball since I was a kid, and I just try to be grateful for it every single day.’’

Amid the obligatory injuries, slumps and periods of self-doubt, Moniak relied on the support of his family and his wife, Sophia, who has been a part of his life since they first dated back in high school. In many ways, the challenging nature of his professional path makes his current success all the more gratifying.

That’s a big part of the message he wants to share with all the high school and college players who are waiting to hear their names called during the 2026 draft this weekend in Philadelphia.

“It's not always a straight line,’’ he said. “There's going to be a lot of ups and a lot of downs. Just be grateful for all of it. We're very fortunate to be playing this game at this level. I think the biggest thing is just enjoy the ride, because you never know when it's going to end.’’