With their first pick in this year’s Major League Baseball Draft, the Los Angeles Angels selected Nolan Schnauel out of Florida Atlantic University.
The 21-year-old infielder wrapped up his third year at FAU following the conclusion of their 2023 season, where he posted a .447/.615/.868 slash in his final campaign. Schanuel is known for his uptick in power, slugging 19 home runs, 18 doubles, while driving in 64 runs.
Schanuel was named Conference USA Player of the Year while leading all of Division I baseball in on-base percentage (.615). He became the highest player selected out of FAU when the Angels took him with the 11th overall pick.
The Angels banked on his big left-handed bat, which took a major leap from his first two seasons at FAU. Schanuel compiled a .386 career average, with 46 doubles, five triples, 46 home runs, 176 RBI and 31 stolen bases across his three seasons with the Owls.
He adds a well-rounded game to the Angels’ farm system, and on top of stealing 14-of-15 bases, Schanuel reached base safely in 58 of 59 games played in 2023. This included a streak of 54 consecutive games, the longest of any DI player this past season.
After drafting shortstop Zach Neto with the 13th overall pick last year, the Angels have selected an infielder for two straight years. Schanuel is their highest pick for a position player since drafting outfielder Jo Adell with the 10th pick in the 2017 MLB Draft.
Because the Angels signed left-hander Tyler Anderson in the offseason, they forfeited their second round pick.
How has Angels former first-rounder Zach Neto fared in MLB?
A similarity between these bookend first round picks, Schanuel and Neto share a few things in common with their swing and their pre-pitch setup. However, Neto’s claim to fame is his bat-to-ball ability.
The Angels loved Neto’s power potential when they selected him out of Campbell University. In his first bit of action before suffering an oblique injury, the young infielder was living up to early expectations.
Still only 22 years old, Neto posted a .769 OPS in 174 at-bats including six homers, 22 RBI and five stolen bases. His presence at the bottom of the lineup steadied Angels manager Phil Nevin’s batting order, as he saw the shortstop post a .421/.500/.1000 line in his final seven game slate before hitting the injured list.
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