For the second straight year the Phillies have drafted a high school outfielder in the first round.

Mickey Moniak, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound outfielder from La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, California was selected by Philadelphia with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 MLB Draft on Thursday.

“Collectively, we believe Mickey was the best player available in the draft,” Phillies Director of Amateur Scouting, Johnny Almaraz said.  “He’s a true center fielder with incredible offensive ability and the potential to be a perennial All-Star.”

Moniak, hit .476 with a .921 slugging percentage, 12 triples, seven home runs, 46 RBI and 40 runs scored in his senior year.  In four varsity seasons, he hit .390 with 105 RBI and 105 runs scored.

He's billed as very strong defensively, with a line-drive lefty swing.

"There is no question he is going to stick in center field," said MLB.com draft expert Johnathan Mayo on the Sports Bash.  "He can really run, he can really hit, he started to show a little bit more power this spring and that is why he started to move up charts.

In the second round (42nd overall), the Phillies selected right-handed pitcher Kevin Gowdy.

Gowdy, 18, pitched for Santa Barbara High School (Calif.) and went 4-1 with a 1.59 ERA (10 ER, 56.2 IP), 93 strikeouts and just five walks during his senior season.  The 6-foot-4, 180-pound righty was a 2016 Rawlings-Perfect Game First Team All-American and a member of USA Baseball’s 18U National team.

 

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