Nolan Schanuel burst onto the professional scene in 2023, going from a first-round draft pick to starting at first base for the Angels in the span of three months.
One thing he left behind in college? His power.
Schanuel, who hit 19 home runs and slugged .868 in his junior year at Florida Atlantic, hit one home run and three doubles in his first 29 major league games. That translated to a paltry slugging percentage of .330.
Considering he played only 22 minor league games after being drafted, anything the Angels could get from Schanuel in 2023 was a bonus.
Considering he’s a first baseman with a power pedigree, the Angels would like to see more from Schanuel going forward. So would he.
Schanuel told Trent Rush on the Angels Recap podcast that improving his power stroke has been a focal point of his offseason workouts.
"I’ve been at the gym. That’s been a big thing for me, and just working on a couple mechanics in my swing to get that backspin, pull-side, left-center side, working on that with a couple guys locally on that little aspect of my swing. It’s not a big adjustment but it’s an adjustment enough to get that pull-side backspin, that opposite-field backspin. … I feel that will take me a long way."
– Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel, via the Angels Recap podcast
Power wasn't Schanuel's only calling card in college. He had a .615 on-base percentage in 2023, drawing an otherworldly 71 walks compared to just 14 strikeouts.
That's an unthinkable ratio for any player, let alone one who swings with enough power to hit a ball over the fence regularly. Schanuel's plate discipline translated seamlessly to the professional ranks. He drew 20 walks in his 29-game debut, allowing him to reach base in every game.
Just because he intends to hit for more power in 2024, Schanuel doesn't want to let his eye for the strike zone fall by the wayside.
“I always say that I’m not going to sacrifice getting on base just to unlock that extra power, especially with 2 strikes. If I get into one, I ge into one. I’m not going to do this big leg kick. I’m not going to get out of my comfort zone to unlock extra power in my swing. I’m going to stick to my approach, what I do. I believe that I’ll run into more balls this season just sticking to my approach and not letting myself shy away from that.”
– Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel, via the Angels Recap podcast
The Angels appear to have gotten themselves a steal in the draft. If Schanuel can add power to his already impressive offensive profile in his first full major league season, it will be a wonder how 10 players were chosen before him in last year's draft.
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