Moniak returns with leadoff homer, embraces leadership role

MESA, Ariz. -- Mickey Moniak rattled off his veteran mentors -- Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Jay Bruce, Kyle Schwarber and Andrew McCutchen when he broke in with the Phillies, high school idol Mike Trout with the Angels. But he was signed by the Rockies just before last season, and had to mature in a hurry.

“It’s no joke, no secret that we had a really young team – I was the oldest guy in the regular lineup for the last month of the season, which is pretty crazy at 27,” Moniak said.

Wednesday’s Spring Training batting order was a little more sane experience-wise, with Willi Castro, 28, added as a multi-positional regular and non-roster invitee Nicky Lopez, 30. Also, Moniak and Brenton Doyle (scratched Wednesday with left wrist soreness as a precaution), who each turn 28 on back-to-back days in May, have a year’s more experience and light-years more learning behind them after enduring a 43-119 season.

The Rockies have sprinkled in a little more experience with Castro, who was an All-Star with the Twins in 2024 and finished last season with the Cubs after a trade, and outfielder Jake McCarthy, 28, acquired from the Diamondbacks. The team will still be young in comparison to teams expecting to contend, but Moniak is happy to see where it goes – and guide direction if necessary.

“Sometimes in the big leagues, everything gets better with experience,” Moniak said. “With the ups and downs we had last year – majority downs – that’s only going to make us better as a whole.”

The Rockies saw Moniak come of age last season.

The first overall pick by the Phillies in 2016, Moniak saw off-and-on Major League duty from 2019-22 before being traded to the Angels as Philadelphia acquired pitcher Noah Syndergaard. Moniak looked poised for a breakout when he batted .280 with 14 homers and an .802 OPS in '23, but he entered '24 with a lingering ankle problem and saw his batting average drop to .219. Moniak won an arbitration case, but was released at the end of Spring Training as the Angels saved salary.

The Rockies signed Moniak to a one-year deal, and his .270/.306/.518 slash line with 24 home runs earned him a one-year, $4 million contract to avoid arbitration for this year. Moniak especially enjoyed his Coors Field home (.303, 15 HR in 71 games, as opposed to .230 and 9 HR in 64 road contests.)

After missing the first five Cactus League games with back tightness, Moniak returned Wednesday to literally lead the Rockies – with a first-inning leadoff home run off Jameson Taillon in the 14-7 win over the Cubs.

“It’s great to see Mickey healthy, and especially see him jump on the first pitch he sees and it’s a homer to lead off the game,” manager Warren Schaeffer said.

Moniak offers his long early-career path as information for a Rockies team that still will be youthful. Those who went through it, he said, will be especially important to the next wave of prospects. When the squad became younger, the clubhouse was populated with players learning on the fly about everything – such as the speed of the game and how much scouting is functional for each player.

“Those guys in Philly and Anaheim were there for me and I look to be that guy for other people,” Moniak said. “No one’s career is a straight line. Last year was a learning curve, for sure.

“My job as, I guess you could say as a veteran, and as a teammate, is to help guys through. We need to get the best of each and every guy.”

RUMFIELD MAKING HIS CASE

TJ Rumfield’s 16 home runs and 31 doubles last year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre put him on the cusp of the Majors, but the Yankees didn’t have an opportunity for him. The Rockies acquired Rumfield, 25, from the Yankees for reliever Angel Chivilli on Jan. 28.

Rumfield announced his candidacy in earnest with two homers on Wednesday – off Taillon and Evan Taylor. Rumfield, a non-roster invitee, is part of a first base chase – Troy Johnston (also an outfielder) and Blaine Crim have experience at the position, but the Rockies can slide over a multi-positional player such as Edouard Julien. No. 70 MLB Pipeline prospect Charlie Condon is in the mix but is expected to begin at Triple-A Albuquerque.

Rumfield said the Yankees’ development system deserves credit for putting him in position for a chance.

“The last five years I spent with the Yankees, just trying to get better every single day, they did a great job of developing players and making sure they’re ready to go when they do get an opportunity like this,” said Rumfield, who earned a Minor League Gold Glove in Double-A in 2023.

HIGHER TESTING VOLUME

Righty Antonio Senzatela, who entered after starter Jose Quintana’s scoreless, one-hit, one-strikeout frame, threw 53 pitches over three scoreless frames (three strikeouts to one hit and one walk) as he prepares to join Team Venezuela on March 1 for World Baseball Classic preparation.

Senzatela, trying to reduce his reliance on a four-seam fastball, used sinkers effectively, but is still tinkering with his sweeper. He changed his sweeper grip in his final inning, and will continue experimenting.

Team Venezuela teammate and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar homered for the Rockies.