Angels' Nolan Schanuel: 'I Can't Really Wrap My Head Around' Meteoric Rise

Schanuel was playing in the majors within months after being drafted out of college.

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel made quite the splash in his rookie season. The Angels drafted Schanuel 11th overall in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Florida Atlantic.

After working his way up through the minor leagues, Schanuel quickly made his major league debut in August, becoming the first player from his draft class to debut.

His exciting rookie season didn't stop there. Schanuel earned a hit in each of his first ten games, setting the Angels franchise record for most consecutive games with a hit to start a career. He also reached base in all 29 games he played, a streak that will continue with his 2024 debut.

In spring training, Schanuel has at least one hit in three appearances. He spoke with Halos Today about his quick ascent.

“I can’t really wrap my head around it still. It’s just something that I worked extremely hard for, and seeing that it’s paid off, I mean, the work’s not over, obviously. But I’m a step closer to where I need to be, and just keep working everyday. I come out here to get better. I strive to be perfect, but nobody’s perfect. So I’ll be fine with great. Just something that I aspire to be.”

— Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel

Despite a tremendous start to his career, Schanuel is working to get even better. He especially focused on his power stroke during the offseason, which should help turn some of his singles into extra-base hits. Of the 30 hits Schanuel collected in 2023, 26 were singles.

Schanuel hit for power during his time at Florida Atlantic. Getting this back should only improve his production in his sophomore season.