Nolan Schanuel -- Performance Analysis
Performance Analysis sources for Nolan Schanuel of the Los Angeles Angels
Nolan Schanuel, the Angels' 2023 first-round pick, has failed to develop into the power-hitting first baseman his physical profile suggests. Through 104 plate appearances in 2026, Schanuel is batting .239/.308/.380 with an ISO of .141 and just three home runs. His game has remained one-dimensional, built around above-average plate discipline with an 11.2% career walk rate, but he has consistently failed to develop meaningful power production across three MLB seasons.
Despite multiple attempts to improve, Schanuel's gains have been marginal. In 2025, he registered the sixth-largest increase in average swing velocity among all MLB players, yet improved only from the second to fourth percentile. His 2024 season was similarly disappointing, producing just 13 homers over 147 games despite his six-foot-two, 220-pound frame suggesting slugging potential. This season's slight uptick in ISO to a career-high .141 has coincided with an all-time low batting average, indicating that his effort to hit for power is directly undermining his contact skills.
The Angels' frustration reflects the reality that Schanuel's one-dimensional approach—walking at high rates but producing minimal power—is insufficient for a corner infielder. At 220 pounds entering his third full season, projections suggested he would finally display the power expected of his position and frame. Instead, after three years of professional development, Schanuel has demonstrated only incremental improvements that remain well below the team's expectations.