Nolan Schanuel has found his swing — and just in time for the Los Angeles Angels.
In Monday’s series opener against the A’s, the 23-year-old first baseman went 3-for-4 with a home run and two doubles, powering the Halos to a 4–3 win and extending their winning streak to four. It was Schanuel’s first career game with three extra-base hits, and he nearly added a fourth, missing a cycle by a triple.
Nolan Schanuel Heats Up: Los Angeles Angels First Baseman Finding His Groove in Year Three
“I saw the ball really well tonight,” Schanuel said. “Hopefully it carries over to the rest of the series. I felt pretty comfortable. Just kind of had a good approach.”
Schanuel credited his recent surge to improved pitch selection, guided by hitting coaches Johnny Washington, Tim Laker, and Jayson Nix. “It’s picking out a good pitch early, not swinging at anything out of my zone,” he explained. “A lot of props to J-Wash, Nixy, and Laker.”
The numbers back it up. Over his last 14 games, Schanuel has slashed .373/.467/.510, lifting his season line from .231/.314/.356 to .277/.366/.403. He leads all qualified Angels hitters in average, OBP, and walks (22), offering a bright spot for an offense with MLB’s lowest team OBP (.2813).
Drafted 11th overall in 2023 out of Florida Atlantic, Schanuel reached the majors just weeks later, debuting the same year. He opened his career with a 30-game on-base streak — third-longest to begin an MLB career — and has maintained elite discipline since, ranking in the 90th percentile in walk and chase rates.
While his power numbers remain modest — just 14 homers in 176 career games — his plate discipline and recent uptick in hard contact suggest a breakout may be on the horizon.
“Things are going really good,” Schanuel said. “It’s awesome to see and be a part of.”