Angels prospect will make remarkable baseball history with speedy debut

Some players wait years to receive the call to the majors, but in the case of 2023 first-round pick Nolan Schanuel, it took only weeks. 

Making his MLB debut Friday night for the Los Angeles Angels, only six weeks after being selected 11th overall in the 2023 draft, the first baseman's speedy call-up will put him among some rare company. 

With 40 days separating Schaneul from draft day, he became the fifth-fastest position player to make their debut, behind only catcher Brian Milner (17 days, 1978), outfielder Dave Winfield (14 days, 1973), and third baseman Bob Horner (10 days, 1978) and Dave Roberts (one day, 1972), per Baseball America. Meanwhile, only seven drafted pitchers made their debuts quicker than Schanuel. 

Unsurprisingly, Schanuel is the first player from the 2023 MLB Draft to get a call-up. Still, he's only the fifth player from the previous two drafts to reach the majors, which includes Angels prospects, shortstop Zach Neto, relief pitchers Ben Joyce and Victor Mederos, per ESPN Stats and Info. 

Schanuel flew through the Angels minor league system, playing only three games in rookie ball before receiving a promotion to Low-A Inland Empire. After an even shorter stint in Single-A (two games), Schanuel was off to Double-A. In 16 games with the Rocket City Trash Pandas, Schanuel slashed .339/.480/.475 with a home run and 12 RBI. Considering his quick rise and the Angels' doomed playoff hopes, the organization had seen enough, having Schanuel skip Triple-A and jump right to the majors.