Schanuel's elite plate discipline leaves a desire for some slugging to pair with it. Can he unlock slugging potential to drive an Angels breakout in 2026?
The Los Angeles Angels are still ironing out some kinks in their roster and determining starters in multiple positions with spring training beginning, but first base is not one of the question marks for first-time manager Kurt Suzuki.
24-year-old Nolan Schanuel will be entering his third season as the Angels' starting first baseman despite being selected in the first round of the draft only back in 2023. As is the case with all top draft picks for the Halos recently, Schanuel didn't have much time in the minor leagues, getting his call-up to the majors after just 24 games.
Since then, he’s solidified himself as an around-league-average hitter with great on-base ability. Still, there’s more to be seen from Schanuel and his six-foot-two-inch and 220-pound frame than simply getting on base.
Schanuel’s 14 home runs per 162 games leave a lot to be desired from a big first baseman like himself. Though his slugging percentage did increase from .362 in 2024 to .389 in 2025, he’s still below to reach league average in the statistic.
Still, Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter thinks 2026 will be a good season for Schanuel, predicting him to be the breakout hitter for the Halos this season.
Schanuel has proven himself to be a tricky out each time he steps up to the plate, striking out just 71 times compared to his 59 walks last season. His 12.6 strikeout percentage landed him in the top seven percent in 2025, and his low whiff percentage put him in the top eight percent. He’s continuously shown an ability to put his bat on the ball and not chase pitches, which has led him to a career 107 OPS+.
His instincts at the plate are a huge plus, but he has a ton of room to improve how he hits the ball. His ranks near the bottom of the league in hard-hit percentage, barrel percentage, and average exit velocity, which explains his below-average slugging numbers. If Schanuel is to have a breakout campaign in 2026, it will be because of an increase in those areas.
He has yet to break even 15 home runs in a season, but his 19 home runs in 59 games during his final year in college indicate that Schanuel can become a 20-home-run hitter. If he continues to stay as a great on-base guy will bringing his slugging even to league-average levels, 2026 would certainly be the Schanuel breakout campaign.