TEMPE, Ariz. — Mickey Moniak may finally have discovered the formula for success in the big leagues.
“I definitely feel like I’m back where I need to be,” the Angels outfielder said. “Now I just have to try to stay away from getting hit again.”
Moniak is once again enjoying a hot spring, with a .348 average and 1.027 OPS through his first 24 plate appearances. He was very good last spring with the Philadelphia Phillies, but the job he had won was lost when he broke his right hand getting hit by a pitch during the final exhibition game.
Moniak then fractured his left middle finger when he was bunting a few games into his Angels career. After a month on the injured list, he came back and was hit on a knuckle of his left hand by a foul ball in the final week of the season.
Asked if he’s going to wear a protective guard on his hand this year, Moniak joked: “I’m thinking about wearing two.”
Assuming Moniak can avoid another injury, his hot spring is providing the Angels with an interesting question.
General manager Perry Minasian said before spring training began that the plan was to have Brett Phillips as the fourth outfielder, with Moniak and Jo Adell in Triple-A. The Angels signed Phillips as a free agent over the winter, guaranteeing him $1.2 million.
With just over two weeks to go before Opening Day, Moniak is performing the best of the three. Phillips is 2 for 23.
“We’re gonna take the best guys,” manager Phil Nevin said. “I’ve said that all along. Contracts or whatever, we’re trying to win, so we’re taking the best group.”
It’s also possible that the Angels could prefer to have Phillips on the bench in the majors and Moniak playing every day at Triple-A, just to keep Moniak going. Playing time for the fourth outfielder will be limited behind starters Mike Trout, Hunter Renfroe and Taylor Ward. Moniak and Adell can both be optioned, but Phillips can’t.
“The argument can be made that he needs to play a lot, so those…
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