The Phillies announced that outfielder Adam Haseley is stepping away from the team for an “undetermined amount of time” due to personal reasons. He’ll be placed on the restricted list while he is away from the team, and Mickey Moniak has been recalled from the team’s alternate training site to fill his spot on the active roster.
Haseley, who just turned 25 this week, was out to a slow start to the season but had a brilliant Spring Training and has been a solid contributor for the Phils since debuting in 2019. Through 334 plate appearances between the 2019-20 seasons, he slashed .269/.330/.382 with strong defensive ratings in the outfield. The Phillies declined to provide any additional detail as to the reason for Haseley’s leave of absence.
Moniak was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft and still has just 18 plate appearances under his belt. He had a monster spring showing, though, hitting .273/.385/.727 with two doubles, two homers and a triple in 26 trips to the plate. Moniak’s prospect status has obviously tumbled since he was taken with that top overall pick, but it’s far too early to write him off. He won’t even turn 23 until next month, and while his .252/.303/.439 batting line from Double-A in 2019 may not look like much, it was 15 percent better than the league-average in an extraordinarily pitcher-friendly setting.
Moniak now seems to have a clear path to fairly regular playing time. Roman Quinn will still factor into the center field mix as well, but Moniak’s left-handed bat would be on the larger side of any platoon arrangement, and the Phillies undoubtedly want to see what their former top pick can do when given a significant role.
Hope he’s ok. He’s seemed to be playing distracted. Lord knows if something’s not right off the field it can affect what’s on it. Again, I hope he’ll come out of his situation on top.
Time for Moniak to attempt to prove his doubters wrong (or right).
Exactly. There are these guys on the Braves’ SB nation webpage that absolutely refuse to admit that mental and or off the field issues can affect a player’s performance. Since they can’t quantify it they refuse to believe it exists. We’re dealing with human players not a video game. Then again I think they’re all on the spectrum over on that site.
personal struggles are real no matter the profession, i’m a union carpenter but i can relate, i.e. if i’m having a rocky personal life it effects my performance at work evan if i try to “leave my stuff at the door”. i think as fans sometimes we forget that these guys are human too with the same struggles but we can’t relate because of the difference of our bank accounts.
I really hope that isn’t true. There has been plenty of well documented and empirical reports on how the last year has taken a toll on the whole workforce, not just sports. Anyone pretending there isn’t data on this is being purposefully closed minded.
Mention to them, Mark Wohlers.
well i guess that explains why he’s looked so lost
damn he was so bad in CF he quit playing
Dull and tasteless void of humor
As expected from an anarchist.
I hope he’s OK, just kind of weird watching him play the last few years that he’s been rated highly defensively.
Some things are bigger than baseball, hope he gets right and comes back
I can’t believe I’m saying this but Moniak should probably be the starting CF given the current CF situation. Quinn just can’t hit.
I mean Moniak is by far the best player right now for CF, but its not like there is much else
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I like Herrera there. His numbers from 2015-2017 were the best the Phillies have had since Victorino left. I know he’s far removed from those years, but I think they should take a chance with him, unlikely since he would need a 40 man roster spot
I agree!
Herrera can redeem himself. He is much more talented than the others. Remember little bull?
that talent only manifested itself during certain spans. in others he was an instant out.
Remember Mickey Morandini?
Solid. Goo Angels!
You think he can play CF?
Unassisted triple play!
Ranks right up there with Eric Bruntlett. They could platoon.
I see that name and I can only hear Harry Kalas
Mickey Mor-AN-Dini! Love it. RIP Harry.
Morandini was one of those rare players who would have more triples than Home Runs in any given season. Possibly the only member of the ’93 Phillies starting lineup that wasn’t on steroids
Not going to comment on whatever is going on with Hase other than to wish him the best. Moniak and Kingerey need to develop and need at bats. At this point, I’d call up Herrera over Mondiak. He’s not great, but Quinn is an automatic out at the plate.
Herrera would require a 40 man roster move, Moniak does not. Moniak also had a way better spring than Herrera. Pretty simple decision.
Haseley being placed on the restricted list also removes him from the 40-man for the time being. Herrera could come up without any other moves so the only factor would be their spring performances
@birdsfan, the problem would be that if Herrera does poorly and Haseley returns the Phillies would have to DFA someone. With Moniak that doesn’t happen.
then you just cut Herrera again. no one’s claiming him.
Moniak’s development is more important than Herrera’s. I’d rather Moniak get ths proper anount of at bats in the minors to develop is career. It’s not necessarily about who’s better right now. Neither option us great. And as pointed out, it wouldn’t have required a 40 man roster move since Haseley was removed from the roster.
You are right. Hes been pretty bad in minors. Needs more time. This was in a thread the other day of players being brought up based on draft position rather then when ready.
Von, there are no minor league games right now. He had a good spring. Time to see what he can do. Let him hit 8th and get some experience for a few weeks. If he’s overmatched, then he goes back to Lehigh Valley when their season starts knowing what he needs to work on.
@jim stem True. But it seems Quinn is getting the nod yet again. I can’t take much more of Roman.
Moniak is in today’s lineup, batting 8th, starting CF. Too bad it looks like his debut will be rained out.
With the current state of CF, Moniak should get plenty of AB’s/innings in the field in order to state his case in Haseley’s absence to keep the position. or perhaps a permanent basis.
Why would you call up Herrera? Moniak needs at-bats…give him them.
This is the third or fourth guy to be placed on the restricted list this season. I can’t think of one player on the restricted list prior to this season. Hope he’s ok.
Mark Appel ring any bells?
Nope. I’m not saying there hasn’t been. I just don’t remember hearing of any.
Ben Zobrist comes to mind.
fwiw he’s on the Minors Restricted List
Colby Rasmus
I am so glad I come to this site. I didn’t know you were all so up on the restricted list. Always informative…
Andrew Toles, Odubel Herrera…
These are the high first round pick bust twins lol. Well, they’ve made majors at least so not totally busts but I’m sure Phillies fans expected more upside
Asf,
“…bust twins lol.” OMG, BTW, ICYMI, WTF.
@Asfan, They’re not Fernando Tatis levels of upside but they still have a chance to contribute. Too early to call them busts.
@audrey iirc when tatis was traded for shields (i think that was the trade but i don’t really follow cws or sd) he was the throw in player like wanio was in the jd drew trade. iirc tatis didn’t start lighting it up until sd and people started to take notice of him and then ff to now.
You’re right and he was only 17 when he was traded for Shields. I hope the White Sox fired whoever had the scouting report on Tatis that year.
@audrey canning a guy for a mistake is a bit extreme, it wasn’t like he was a top 10 pick nor did his dad have a hof career (he was good for a few years but then hit the wall and hard). also we don’t know how they viewed tatis before being traded and it came down to him or player x and they liked player x more.
He’s not American so he wasn’t part of the MLB Draft. He got to the Number 5 spot in the top 100 prospect list in 2018 at 19 years old. I can’t imagine whoever ok’d that trade for the white Sox is a good evaluator of talent, thus it’s probably not in the white Sox best interest if they’re still working there.
@audrey i’m sure there are more than one person involved in the tatis trade, also none of know how tatis was ranked in cws system. it reminds of a segment i missed on the radio but heard the teaser which was “of the 8 guys in atl involved in putting together the j.d. drew for marquis deal 1 guy said throwing wanio in the deal as the “throw in” was a mistake.
All Moniak has done is progress one level at a time (and slowly adding weight), usually being amongst the youngest players in the league…Is he Juan Soto….nope. Is he only 22…yup.
Based on what scouts still say, he profiles as a starter, Haseley, a #4 type. Without any signings, 2022 looks like Haseley in LF, Moniak in CF and Harper in RF. It’s time to see what they can do unfettered….and add a couple rh hitting back-ups. Quinn is not viable….
if you dont follow the Soto developmental timeline as a 1st rounder you’re a bust in this town. stupid but that’s what people think.
Ain’t that the truth.
There’s that and then there’s the people in the Delaware Valley upset with the Phillies for not drafting Trout. Completely ignoring the fact that the Phillies were winning pennants at the time and he was gone before the Phillies even got the chance.
1) I hope Haseley will be alright.
2) I’m glad they didn’t bring Scott StinKery back up to replace him.
3) bRoQuinn (broken) might be the most physically fragile Phillie ever
4) no mas O’Terrible Herrera, he’s awful
5) let’s see what Moniak can do
Was this unfunny on purpose?
I’ve thought about them moving Rhys to LF, Clutch to CF, and Realmuto to 1B on Realmutos off days to get his bat back in there and BC CF production has been abysmal. Defensively it’s a nightmare. But you know as a fan you have those, what if they, moments even if they’re unrealistic. Realistically if Moniak stinks it up, he gets sent back down and the Odubel comes up.
Those defensive liabilities outweigh having Realmuto in the lineup for an extra day. Hoskins in left field was one of the worst defensive seasons for a player in recent memory.
well he’s been terrible at 1B this year as well…
The Hoskins’ OF experiment was a nightmare. He has no range. Cutch can’t cover CF either. I see where you’re coming from, but I think they’re stuck with what they got.
Rhys CANNOT play LF
Cutch CANNOT play CF
Terrible idea.
Why is nobody commenting on how awful the lead off hitter is and how he should just retire?
Because it’s still April and the Phillies have only played two teams. It’s still hard to judge what the Phillies are yet, and pitching is clearly ahead of hitting league-wide right now. The Phillies bats will come around, hopefully McCutchen will be part of that.
Sadly, McCutchen’s injury was career-changing. It’s almost two years since it occurred and he appears to be a shadow of himself.
I get the leadership he provides, but the performance is not there.
Maybe it’s time for an IL stint for the now 34 year old. He does not appear to have much left in his tank.
IL stint won’t help. The Phillies lack alternatives.
My guess is that he’ll be fine. Overpaid, but fine. I’d expect 15 HRs and a .260. That’s a whole lot less than a $17M player, but I don’t think he will cost you any games.
Depends on how long his slump lasts.
He skill has very good/elite plate discipline and his speed is largely back to what it was before the knee injury.
Hitting a lot of weak ground balls though and more and more it appears he has lost some bat speed. Just isn’t squaring up pitchers that well anymore.
He really is a 6th/7th hitter at this point but is in the leadoff spot because the Phils don’t have a better alternative.
Cutch was already on the downswing when they signed him. he’s not been great so far but i think he’ll get better. still shouldnt be the #1 hitter though.
I think…he is hearing the call to ministry…
Okay, I just found .02c in my pocket. So I’ll spend it here.
I didn’t understand the high marks defensively for Haseley. I didn’t think he was particularly good in center. Whatever is happening in his life, I only wish the best for him and his family.
I have always been a Quinn fan but I too am frustrated watching him hit. At least last night I saw him choke up. He should be attempting to bunt at least once every at bat. His defense in center is very good.
I am a goofy fan. I’d think he is also very good defensively in center. Better hitter than either Quinn or Haseley.
As for Mickey, I need more than a decent spring training to say he deserves it more than a proven commodity than Odubel.
he actually looked stellar in 2019 and had a 1.3 dWAR in 67 games, which, extrapolated over a whole year, would have lead all OF by. .4. now what i dont get is where that Haseley went.
Quinn’s defense is average at best.
Rhys CANNOT play LF
Cutch CANNOT play CF
Terrible idea.
as bad as Hoskins is at LF he’s been terrible so far at 1B. honestly, id prefer a bad LF to a bad 1B because it shoudlnt be that hard to be competent at 1B. Bring up Hall or something.
I wish Haseley the best in whatever he needs to deal with personally.
It’s always exciting when a No. 1 overall draft pick makes it to the big leagues. Hopefully Moniak seizes this opportunity and solves the Phillies’ CF problem.
Hasley is clearly not the solution as the starting CF. Quinn at best is a backup and pinch runner if anyone gets on base. OK with MM but Herrera is the win now obvious choice
Ironic this should happen the same day Nick Williams is DFAd by the White Sox. I don’t see PHI bringing him back because the last thing they need is another OF on the roster who can’t hit.
I feel like I’m seeing someone walk away for personal reasons every week.
I’m having a terrible mental health day today myself so I can attest to stepping away from whatever it is that you do (even baseball) carries merit. Recovery is a full time gig sometimes but I have faith Adam will bounce back doing what he loves again.
Vince can hit better than Roman Quinn . The league is littered with speedy dudes who can’t hit . I’m good with Mickey but don’t forget what speeding Kingery through the minors has led to . Odubel can do this job and cover any of the outfield positions . It’s going to happen sooner or later , Quinn is not good enough .