Major League Baseball

Checking in on the top 5 picks in last year's baseball draft

Published Jun. 13, 2016 3:17 a.m. ET

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In a year with no consensus top player, the Philadelphia Phillies led off Major League Baseball's draft Thursday by taking Mickey Moniak, a high school outfielder from California.

It could be a while before we'll have a sense of whether Moniak is worthy of that selection. Even the top picks need time to develop, and that certainly figures to be true of Moniak, who was the first prep outfielder taken No. 1 since Tampa Bay drafted Delmon Young in 2003.

For a sense of where Moniak and the other top picks might be a year from now, here's a look at last season's top five - and how they're doing:

DANSBY SWANSON, SS, DIAMONDBACKS

After taking Swanson with the No. 1 pick last year, Arizona traded him to Atlanta in an offseason deal that sent Shelby Miller to the Diamondbacks. Swanson posted a .967 OPS in 21 games with Class A Carolina this season, then was promoted to Double-A Mississippi at the end of April.

ALEX BREGMAN, SS, ASTROS

Bregman has been sensational with the bat this year at Double-A Corpus Christi, hitting .314 with 13 home runs and 42 RBIs in 49 games. It will be interesting to see how the Astros handle their infield if Bregman keeps progressing, since they already have a terrific young shortstop in Carlos Correa.

BRENDAN RODGERS, SS, ROCKIES

Rodgers got off to a very good start this year at Class A Asheville, but he has slowed down offensively over the last month. He's hitting .285 with eight home runs in 200 at-bats on the season.

DILLON TATE, RHP, RANGERS

The first pitcher taken in 2015 is still in Class A. Tate is 2-2 with a 5.35 ERA for Hickory, although he's averaging over a strikeout an inning.

KYLE TUCKER, OF, ASTROS

Tucker hasn't shown much power, but he's getting on base (.374 on-base percentage) and has stolen 23 bases in 29 attempts for Class A Quad Cities.

Here are a few other developments from around baseball:

PAYING DIVIDENDS

When the Detroit Tigers traded away some of their stars at last year's deadline, they were hoping the young players they got in return could help them retool for 2016. The performance of Michael Fulmer - acquired in the deal that sent Yoenis Cespedes to the New York Mets - has helped Detroit stay within striking distance of the AL Central lead.

Fulmer won his fifth straight start Sunday when the Tigers beat the Yankees 4-1, and he extended his scoreless streak to 28 1/3 innings.

FANTASY FOCUS

Jhonny Peralta started hitting right away after returning from a thumb injury. In his first six games of the season, he went 8 for 24 with a homer and two doubles. When Peralta came back, the Cardinals sent Kolten Wong down to the minors, a startling fall for a player who was considered a solid middle infield option coming into the season.

LINE OF THE WEEK

Jeanmar Gomez of the Phillies earned a rare two-inning save Tuesday night when Philadelphia handed the Chicago Cubs a 3-2 loss. Gomez entered with the bases loaded and nobody out and the Phillies up by two. A sacrifice fly and a double play got him out of the eighth, and he was able to hold on in the ninth against baseball's top team.

Gomez is tied for second in the major leagues with 19 saves.

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Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister