SCHANUEWOW: The Most Underrated Halo, A 2026 Season Preview
March 23, 2026 - Written by Cruz Cambero
Nolan Schanuel this Spring Training:
— SleeperAngels (@SleeperAngels) March 18, 2026
.258 AVG
8 H
0 HR
5 BB
.750 OPS pic.twitter.com/0HReQ17r3V
Nolan Schanuel was drafted by the Angels in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft, and from the moment he entered professional baseball, his rise felt unusually fast. He played just 22 games in the minors before getting the call to the majors, something almost unheard of in today’s development-heavy system. That alone made people pay attention. But what has kept him in the lineup is not hype; it is production.
In his first cup of coffee in 2023, Schanuel hit .275 in just over 132 at-bats, immediately showing that he could handle major league pitching. Since then, he has quietly become a steady and reliable presence in the Angels lineup, typically hitting in the two spot, setting the table right after Zach Neto and in front of Mike Trout. That role is not given lightly. It requires consistency, discipline, and an ability to get on base, all things Schanuel has proven he can do.
Over the past two seasons, Schanuel has posted a combined 1.3 WAR while maintaining a batting average above .250 in back-to-back years. He has also recorded over 125 hits in each of those seasons and drawn more than 55 walks both years. His on-base percentage sat at .353 last season, reinforcing his value as a player who consistently puts himself in position to score and extend innings. In a lineup that relies on its stars to drive runs in, having someone like Schanuel getting on base in front of them is crucial.
What makes Schanuel even more interesting is how he succeeds despite not fitting the modern mold of a first baseman. When you look at his Baseball Savant page, his bat speed, average exit velocity, and hard-hit percentage are all underwhelming compared to league averages. In today’s game, where power metrics dominate player evaluation, that would normally be a red flag. For Schanuel, it is simply not how he plays.
He does not need elite exit velocity or towering home runs to be effective. His game is built on contact, discipline, and situational hitting. He rarely strikes out, ranking highly in whiff rate, strikeout percentage, and chase rate. He controls the strike zone extremely well and forces pitchers to work. That approach may not generate highlight reels, but it wins at-bats and helps his team.
At a position where players like Pete Alonso and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are known for power, Schanuel offers something different. He breaks the mold of the traditional slugging first baseman and instead provides a throwback style of hitting that prioritizes getting on base over hitting for power. And despite not fitting that typical profile, he continues to succeed.
There had been some push in previous years to develop more power in Schanuel’s swing, but that has not been the focus under first-year hitting coach Brady Anderson. Instead, the emphasis has shifted toward refining what he already does well rather than changing his identity as a hitter.
Anderson said, “Pure hitter. Line-drive hitter. He doesn’t need to try to lift, ever. Stays in the gaps. He’s perfect. Requires very little help on my part other than keeping him where he needs to be.”
For many fans, this approach was surprising. In a league obsessed with launch angle and home runs, hearing a hitting coach actively discourage lifting the ball feels almost backwards. But in Schanuel’s case, it makes perfect sense. Why try to turn him into something he is not when he is already effective? His value comes from consistency and discipline, not raw power.
Schanuel may not be the flashiest name at first base, but he gets the job done. He keeps innings alive, wears down pitchers, and creates opportunities for the hitters behind him. Those contributions do not always show up in highlight clips, but they are essential to winning games.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Schanuel feels like a prime breakout candidate, not necessarily in terms of power, but in recognition. The numbers have already been there, but this could be the year the rest of the league starts to take notice. A realistic expectation would be a .275 batting average, over 140 hits, more than 70 walks, and a slight power increase with around 17 home runs.
Schanuel may not be what most fans expect from a first baseman, but that is exactly what makes him valuable. He does not try to do too much. He sticks to his approach, trusts his strengths, and consistently produces. In a lineup full of bigger names, he might just be the most underrated player on the Angels.
Plain and simple, he gets on base.
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