Moniak, Nola have nothing but love for gloves

February 20th, 2019

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Everything is still a little new to Mickey Moniak in his first big league camp.

The food, the per diem, everything. He rolled into Spectrum Field early Tuesday morning and found a stockpile of Wilson gloves in the back of the clubhouse. Moniak, who the Phillies selected with the first overall pick in the 2016 Draft, is a Wilson guy, like big leaguers , Cesar Hernandez, , and David Robertson. Wilson made its stop at Phillies camp Tuesday, giving its clients a chance to pick out new gloves for the season.

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"They do the same thing on the Minor League side, but obviously they come [here] earlier and they might even have more of a selection," Moniak said. "They've got a bagful of gloves and they're like, 'Yeah, find two you like and take them.'"

Moniak, who is ranked the club's No. 9 prospect by MLB Pipeline, gets two stock gloves and one custom-made glove every year. He hopped online in the offseason to make the custom glove, essentially an A2000 model that is black with red laces and stitching.

The best part? When he clicks the checkout button it says $0.

"It's like Christmas," Nola said. "Gloves, you form a good relationship with one another. I remember when I was like a kid in the candy store, it was like Christmas every time I asked my parents to go buy a glove or go glove shopping."

Nola is trying out one of Wilson's SuperSkin gloves this year. It is a lighter material that is easier to break in than leather.

"I just wanted to try something new this time," Nola said.

So what does Moniak, who is still trying to break in last year's custom glove, do with his growing stockpile of gloves? Even a professional doesn't go through three gloves every season.

Simple, he gives them to family and friends.

His friend Phillip Evans, who has made 61 plate appearances the past two seasons with the Mets, asked for a few before he played winter ball in the Dominican Republic. He gives a bunch of gear -- gloves, cleats, etc. -- to children there that might need them.

"I'm like, 'I've got a bunch of stuff for you,'" Moniak said.

Extra bases

The Phillies have announced their starting pitchers for their first five Grapefruit League games:

• Friday vs. Rays in Port Charlotte, Fla.: Left-hander Cole Irvin.

• Saturday vs. Pirates: Right-hander Enyel De Los Santos.

• Sunday vs. Tigers in Lakeland, Fla.: Right-hander Drew Anderson.

• Monday vs. Tigers: Left-hander JoJo Romero.

• Tuesday vs. Yankees in Tampa, Fla.: Left-hander Ranger Suarez.