Phillies' cornerstone prospects J.P. Crawford and Mickey Moniak have a budding friendship

The fishing boat left the pier at 7 a.m., dipping into the waters of Monterey Bay, and taking with it two of the potential cornerstones of the Phillies' future.

J.P. Crawford and Mickey Moniak - the organization's highest-rated prospects - became friends this offseason on a California fishing trip. Moniak stayed the night at Crawford's apartment and the two spent a few hours together on the water.

It was intended to be an introduction set up by the agency they share. And it also helped build a friendship that the Phillies hope can reach the majors sometime in the next few seasons.

"We had a nice little day," Crawford said. "It was fun. A nice little trip."

The two prospects begin their seasons on Thursday night at nearly opposite rungs of the baseball ladder. But it was easy for Crawford and Moniak,  as they waited for their fishing rods to shake, to imagine one day playing together in the major leagues.

"He's a guy who rose fast and he's obviously going to be a great player who is going to be really good in the big leagues," Moniak said. "Anything I can learn from him -  just being around him, about how you carry yourself is definitely a huge thing I can pick up on."

Crawford, the team's first-round pick in 2013, begins the season with triple-A Lehigh Valley. The 23-year-old shortstop could finish his year in the majors. He had a down year last season, but he was the youngest player in the International League and played with a bone spur in his left knee that was removed this offseason.

Moniak, the No. 1 pick in last June's draft, will be starting in center field for low-A Lakewood. He batted. 284 last season in the rookie league, but missed the Gulf Coast League playoffs with a sore hip. It was caused by a growing pain, a reminder of how young Moniak still is. He turns 19 next month.

That fishing trip allowed Crawford to prepare Moniak for his start in the minor leagues. It was just four years ago that Crawford, like Moniak, entered professional baseball out of high school as a first-round pick.

"I remember when I was coming up like him, I would always look for that older-brother type figure. Thankfully, Shane Watson, my best friend, was that guy to me," Crawford said of his high school teammate, who was a first-round pick by the Phillies in 2012. "So I'm always trying to help out everyone else who needs my help or has any questions."

His advice for Moniak?

"I told him, 'Yeah, it's cool to be the top guy and whatever but once you start playing, none of that matters.' On the field, you're the same as everyone else. Go out there and play your game. Don't get caught up in that stuff," Crawford said. "When you're on the field, work. Work harder than everyone else. Everyone is out there trying to take your job and do better than you, so you have to prove that you're better than them and prove that you can get that job and prove that you can play."

Plans in baseball are often fragile. But if the next few seasons go as designed, Moniak may reach the majors by 2020. Crawford by then could be established. The other top prospects - who start this season with Crawford at triple A - will have revealed their potential. Some big-ticketed free agents will be added.

Moniak will be entering the majors just as the team hopes to be thrusting itself back into contention. And if that revival is to happen - with Crawford and Moniak at the front - it can all be traced to a day on the water.

"We're going to be coming up at the same time into the big leagues and hopefully, all of this success will translate into years of winning in Philadelphia," Moniak said. "It's really awesome to see."