During a spring training game on Wednesday, Mickey Moniak continued his impressive hitting streak despite the Colorado Rockies suffering a 14-4 loss to Team USA. Moniak, a standout outfielder for the Rockies, maintained his remarkable spring training form by homering off legendary pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who is pitching for Team USA despite having retired from Major League Baseball. Moniak’s continued success at the plate has drawn attention as the new MLB season approaches.
Moniak’s Dominant Spring Training Performance
This spring, Moniak has hit an outstanding .625 with a .1.500 slugging percentage and a 2.250 OPS, accumulating five hits in total, including two home runs and three RBIs. He has also demonstrated patience at the plate by walking more often than striking out. His latest feat came against Kershaw, a former first-round pick himself, when Moniak promptly launched a home run to extend his spring tally to three homers. This feat adds to Moniak’s growing reputation as a key offensive player in the Rockies’ lineup ahead of the regular season.
Moniak Reflects on Hitting a Home Run Off Clayton Kershaw
After the game, Moniak shared his thoughts on the significance of homering off Kershaw, a pitcher widely regarded as one of the greatest of his era. Speaking from the locker room, Moniak said,
“I think it was just cool seeing him out there. You know, obviously, the best pitcher of our generation, arguably one of the best pitchers in the history of the game; I’ll be able to tell my grandkids that I got a home run off him.”
He added,
“Just getting out there, getting to face all of those guys and him specifically was really cool.”
Looking Back at Moniak’s 2025 Season and What Lies Ahead
Moniak’s 2025 campaign ended with a -0.6 WAR, primarily due to defensive shortcomings, despite strong offensive numbers, including 24 home runs, a .270 batting average, and an OPS of .824 — above the league average. He set new personal bests for home runs, walks, triples, RBIs, and hits over 135 games. Maintaining this momentum into 2026 spring training suggests he could build on last year’s career highs.
Projected Role and Expectations for the 2026 Season
According to FanGraphs, Moniak is likely to serve as the designated hitter for the Rockies this season, a role that could leverage his offensive strengths while minimizing defensive liabilities. His demonstrated hitting improvements in spring training provide hope that he can sustain this level throughout the regular season, potentially making him one of Colorado’s top hitters in a challenging campaign ahead.
Mickey‼️ pic.twitter.com/PpwpR52TgM
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) March 4, 2026
"I think it was just cool seeing him out there. You know, obviously, the best pitcher of our generation…
I'll be able to tell my grandkids that I got a home run off him."
Mickey Moniak on his solo HR against Clayton Kershaw in the @rockies 14-4 loss to @USABaseball#Rockies |… https://t.co/GuGvsx62ZZ pic.twitter.com/bfZFPJQiep
— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports) March 4, 2026
