Park Vista, FAU star Nolan Schanuel drafted by Los Angeles Angels in the first round
Florida Atlantic first baseman Nolan Schanuel became the first player in school history to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft when the Los Angeles Angels made him the 11th overall pick Sunday night. The selection of the former Park Vista standout and Conference USA Player of the Year carries a slot value of $5,253,000. Schanuel surpassed shortstop C.J. Chatham, who was selected 51st overall (second round) by the Boston Red Sox in 2016, as FAU's highest professional draft pick in any sport.
Schanuel led the nation in batting average (.447), on-base percentage (.615) and walks (71). He also led C-USA in slugging percentage (.868) and hits (88). His slash line - .447/.615/.868 - was off the charts. He also only struck out 14 times and walked 71 times, tying LSU’s Dylan Crews for the most in D-I.Needless to say, it was the best offensive season in Owls' history. He also led the team in home runs (18) and RBIs (64).
The Angels selected him because they think he’s close to MLB ready, following the selections of shortstop Zach Neto and right-hander Sam Bachman , who were their first-round picks in 2022 and are currently with the Angels.
“We took a look at a lot of players and in the end, Nolan did a lot of things that we really liked and we really wanted,” Angels scouting director Tim McIlvaine said. “He’s got power. He can hit. He knows the zone. He’s really patient. He rarely ever strikes out, took a lot of walks this year and had a lot of extra-base hits.”
More: 'A born hitter': FAU baseball's Nolan Schanuel rises as MLB prospect after dominant season
Schanuel said he became emotional when he got the call that he was drafted by the Angels. He also knew the Angels' 2022 first-round picks and their history.“When I got the phone call from my advisor that the Angels were taking me with the next pick, I burst into tears,” Schanuel said. “This has been a lifelong dream of mine and to be able to be in the Angels' organization now has just made that dream 10 times better. I'm so excited. I'm ready to go. I'm ready to fly out today.”Owls head coach John McCormack said he was "unbelievably proud" of his former player. "He did this. He earned this," McCormack said. "The Angels are getting a great baseball player and an even better human being. He's a hard worker, he's selfless, and he's a great teammate."
Schanuel, rated as the No. 26 draft prospect by MLB Pipeline, was a .400 hitter in high school - where he also played the outfield - but his power came later. His high school career also was cut short by the pandemic.
The 6-foot-4 left-handed hitter told The Palm Beach Post that he wasn't paying attention to all the pre-draft hype and mock drafts that all had him going in the first round - just not that high."I try not to pay attention to it, try not to get a big head," he said. "I hope I go first round — that would just put the icing on the cake — but just being able to play professional baseball is something I've wanted to do my whole life. Being given a shot would mean the world to me."
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Los Angeles Angels select Nolan Schanuel 11th overall in MLB Draft
