Let's look back at the 2017 season with the third in our Year In Review series.---
Let's look back at the 2017 season with the third in our Year In Review series.
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Editor's Note - We will be publishing a series of "Year in Review" stories that look at each half, position groups, and some of the best moments and promotions from the 2017 season. This is the fourth in this series.
Previously - First Half In Review, Second Half In Review, Infielders
Our BlueClaws Year In Review Series continues with the BlueClaws Outfielders, a group that included two first-round picks, a season-ending home run, and several different players across the 140 game season.
When the BlueClaws Opening Day roster was announced, surely the biggest name listed was Mickey Moniak. The BlueClaws centerfielder was taken first overall in the 2016 draft, a high schooler from the San Diego area. Moniak became the first #1 overall pick to play in the Sally League since Bryce Harper in 2011 (the first overall pick in the 2010 draft).
He ended the season hiting .236 with five home runs and 11 stolen bases while holding down centerfield for the BlueClaws. Among his season highlights were a 4-hit game in a win over Delmarva on June 14th and a five-game hitting streak to start the season.
Moniak was not the only Phillies first-round pick to play for the BlueClaws. Adam Haseley, who was drafted in the first-round this year, 8th overall, out of the University of Virginia, joined the BlueClaws for the final three weeks of the season and hit .258 with a home run in 18 games. Haseley had previously spent time with both the GCL Phillies and Williamsport before coming to the BlueClaws. This marked the first time since 2011, when the BlueClaws had Jesse Biddle and Anthony Hewitt, that they had two first round picks on the team at the same time.
Is there a better way to end the season than with a walk-off home run? It happened for the BlueClaws this year as Austin Listi hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12th inning on the final day of the season to give the BlueClaws a win over Kannapolis.
Listi spend the last month of the season with the BlueClaws after getting selected in the 17th round this year out of Dallas Baptist. He also had a walk-off hit in an August 19th win over Delmarva.
Both Jesus Alastre and David Martinelli made impacts in the BlueClaws outfield as well this year. Alastre arrived on July 4th and hit .307 over 43 games including his first professional home run. Martinelli, a 6th round pick last year, was here the entire 2017 season and hit .355 in June as the BlueClaws made their push towards a Northern Division first-half title. Martinelli also had the best slide of any BlueClaw this year, avoiding a tag and scoring the game-winning run in a June 17th win over Hickory.
David Martinelli slides in safely in a win over Hickory. Mike Dill / Lakewood BlueClaws
Two outfielders that started the season with the BlueClaws were promoted to Clearwater - Cord Sandberg and Carlos Duran. Sandberg had returned to Lakewood after spending last year with Clearwater, and was promoted on June 5th. He hit a home run to tie the third game of the season on an 0-2 pitch in the ninth inning before the BlueClaws would win in extra innings. Duran was with the BlueClaws last year as well and was promoted after a three-hit game on July 4th.
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