Philadelphia Phillies Select Mickey Moniak with No. 1 Pick

On Thursday night in Secaucus, N.J., Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred stepped to the podium opening up the First Round of the 2016 MLB Draft, and officially put the Philadelphia Phillies on the clock.

Just about five minutes later, the Phillies selected high school outfielder Mickey Moniak, with the number one overall pick.

“Geez, it’s indescribable,” Moniak said. “It’s always a kid’s dream to get drafted by a major-league team, but to be the No. 1 pick is insane.”

“It’s been a fun season and it’s come down to this and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to get picked by the Phillies, I wouldn’t say there’s any pressure. I’m just going to play my game and do what I’ve been doing my whole life. I’m excited to prove the Phillies right.”

Moniak comes from La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, California. At La Costa Canyon, Moniak batted .476 with seven home runs, 13 walks and just six strikeouts in 29 games this spring.

“You want a kid who can hit, but he can run and he can play defense,” said MLB analyst and former GM Dan O’Dowd on MLB Network. “The Phillies got it right with this one.”

Moniak becomes the first outfielder taken with the No. 1 pick since Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper in 2010. He also becomes the first high school outfielder selected first overall since 2003 when the Tampa Bay Rays selected Delmon Young.

Moniak is committed to UCLA, but is expected to sign by the the July 15 draft deadline.