The Los Angeles Angels chased an impact bat after drafting first baseman Nolan Schanuel in the first round of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft. The 22-year-old excelled in his three years at Florida Atlantic University, making his impending draft status that much more of a reality.
Having a clear void in terms of productive bats from young left-handed swinging position players, the Angels and general manager Perry Minasian saw a clear need and fit with Schanuel on the board at their pick. When breaking down his profile as a hitter, there’s a ton to like.
To go along with the .447/.615/.868 slash, which included 19 home runs, 18 doubles and 64 RBI, Schanuel also has the baseball mind to play at the next level. The Angels move to making Schanuel a member of the franchise, accomplishing a childhood vision for himself.
“This has been a lifelong dream of mine,” Schanuel said after hearing his name called. “And to be able to be in the Angels organization now has just made that dream 10 times better. I’m so excited, I’m ready to go, I’m ready to fly out today.”
His next step would be joining the Angels farm system, to get a taste of professional baseball, with the hope he can progress quickly.
“I want to be right there with (2022 first round pick) Zach Neto, Ben Joyce, Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani,” Schanuel said. “I want to be a teammate of theirs and get going.”
Schanuel was awarded Conference USA Player of the Year in his final campaign at FAU, breaking the previous record for highest drafted player in school history.
“I’m unbelievably proud of Nolan,” FAU head coach John McCormack said. “He did this. He earned this. The Angels are getting a great baseball player and an even better human being. He’s a hard worker, he’s selfless, and he’s a great teammate.”
Angels scouting director Tim McIlvaine expressed a deep appreciation for Schanuel’s particular style on a baseball field, nothing that he has a solid understanding of exactly what needs to be done in order to succeed.
“Nolan does a lot things that we like and that we sought out to look for,” McIlvaine said. “He’s got power, he can hit, he knows the zone, rarely ever strikes out. He understands the game, he’s got a really good baseball mind.”
Recapping Angels top day 2 selections
In his second year with the team, McIlvaine oversaw a draft process by the Angels that pick a solid mix of pitchers and hitters. Round three brought them Albert Rios, a third baseman out of Stanford. The 2023 Pac-12 Player of the Year posted a terrific final season with 18 home runs, 73 RBI, with a 1.191 on-base plus slugging.
Round 6 was an upside pick after the Angels took Camden Minacci out of Wake Forest. Although he projects as a reliever, two-pitch right-hander was a key piece to the Wake Forest bullpen and has a fastball that tops out in the upper 90s.
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