Colorado Rockies: Mock Draft Monday, Version 1

Mickey Moniak

Is there such a thing as having too much pitching? Absolutely not. Every team needs pitching, including the Rockies, who have used three of their last five first-round picks on arms. Those picks include Jon Gray with the third overall pick in 2013.

While the Rockies are always looking for pitching, two teams ahead of them, the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves, will take two pitchers in A.J. Puk and Jason Groome, both left-handers who are near the top of every mock draft out there.

That leaves the Rockies to do one of two things: Take a pitcher earlier than everyone is projecting him to go or go with the best available player. We think that player will be Mickey Moniak, a high school outfielder from Carlsbad, Calif., who has been described as “one of the better high school bats in the nation who makes consistent, hard contact at the plate, according to MLB.com. You can check out video of him and a scouting report from MLB.com by clicking here.

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Moniak has also been described as an outfielder who has a lot of speed to cover the outfield, perfect for roaming Coors Field in the future.

Baseball America says that two Southern California scouts say his bat ranks a 70 on a scale of 20-80. They say if there’s one high school prospect in the draft who will mash in the Majors, they’re putting their money on Moniak.

What’s the biggest knock on him? Moniak has yet to develop a lot of power. However, the Rockies should be willing to take him based on hitting for average with the bet that the power will develop down the line.

Next: Discussing Colorado's Choice at #38