Mickey Moniak finally made the Phillies’ Opening Day roster – and unfortunately won’t get to play until sometime in May.
The Phils officially announced ahead of Friday’s season opener that Moniak has been placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Thursday) with a broken right hand, and the team has recalled outfielder Simon Muzziotti from Double-A Reading.
Moniak, the Phillies’ No. 1 overall pick back in 2016, was hit by a pitch in the final spring training game against the Rays on Wednesday, injury added to insult that he had swung at the pitch that hit him to strike out.
Per NBC Sports Philadelphia, X-rays taken in St. Petersburg were initially negative, but Moniak went for another set after Thursday’s workout at CBP that revealed the fracture, and it’s reported that Moniak will miss four to six weeks.
The 23-year-old made the opening day roster after hitting .378 with six home runs, four doubles, and 11 RBI this spring, and likely would have been the starter in center field on Friday; instead, Matt Vierling is in between Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos, and Muzziotti is on the MLB roster despite just 12 games of experience above Double-A.
Moniak did get to partake in the Opening Day festivities, at least, and he received a big ovation as he was introduced to the crowd during the pre-game ceremonies.
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Muzziotti, also 23, played just 20 games last season due to Visa issues, and did not play in 2020 due to the MiLB COVID shutdown. His last full season, 2019, was spent at then High-A Clearwater, where he hit .287 with three homers, 28 RBI, and 21 steals in 101 games.
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