Another disappointing season in the books, and the Los Angeles Angels find themselves staring at yet another last-place finish. With a 72-90 record, the team showed a slight improvement over their disastrous 2024 campaign, but it’s hardly cause for celebration. This offseason, the Angels seem to be doubling down on internal growth as their ticket out of the AL West basement. But here’s where it gets controversial: is relying solely on young talent enough to turn things around, or are the Angels setting themselves up for another letdown?**
Once again, the spotlight falls on the team’s promising youngsters. Will Zach Neto finally make the leap to superstardom? Can Logan O’Hoppe regain his footing? And what about Christian Moore—will he emerge as a key contributor? These questions are just the tip of the iceberg. And this is the part most people miss: the real wildcard might be Nolan Schanuel, whose power potential has been a lingering concern.
At 6’2” and 220 pounds, Schanuel certainly looks the part of a prototypical first baseman, but his power numbers tell a different story. So far, he’s hit more like a light-hitting middle infielder than a corner infielder. However, there’s a glimmer of hope: Steamer projections for 2026 suggest Schanuel could be on the verge of a power breakthrough. But is this projection wishful thinking, or a realistic prediction?
It’s hard to believe Schanuel will turn just 24 this Valentine’s Day, given how quickly he’s risen through the ranks. The Angels’ 2023 first-round pick spent a mere 22 games in the minors before making his MLB debut that same year. Now, entering his third full season, Schanuel has already shown plenty of promise. His strong plate discipline—an 11.3% walk rate and a stellar 14.8% strikeout rate—paired with decent contact skills (.259 career batting average) provide a solid foundation.
However, his power output, especially for a premium power position, has been underwhelming. In 2025, Schanuel posted a career-best .389 slugging percentage, but that’s still far from impressive. He’s well aware of this shortcoming and publicly addressed it during last year’s spring training, working to improve his strength and bat speed. But here’s the kicker: while he did show incremental improvements—his bat speed rose from 65.2 mph in 2024 to 67.5 mph in 2025—his hard-hit rate, exit velocity, and barrel percentage remain in the bottom 15th percentile of the league. So, is this enough to spark a power surge?
Steamer thinks so. The projection system forecasts a .269/.364/.419 line with a career-high 16 home runs in just 121 games. While not record-breaking, this would mark a significant 48-point jump in slugging percentage from his career average of .371. But is Steamer overestimating Schanuel’s potential, or is this the breakthrough the Angels desperately need?
Steamer’s projections aren’t pulled from thin air; they account for trends, including Schanuel’s wrist injury in August 2025. After being hit by a pitch, he tried to play through the pain, but his performance suffered before he eventually landed on the IL. Returning in September, Schanuel played just seven games, but in that small sample size, he slugged .500 with two home runs and a double—a promising sign.
Schanuel doesn’t need to become a 30-homer slugger to make an impact. If he can consistently drive the ball into the gaps and occasionally clear the fence, the Angels’ lineup could benefit significantly, especially with power contributions from other positions. His 83rd percentile launch angle sweet spot percentage suggests that with a bit more power, he could do serious damage. But the question remains: can he actually make that leap?
If Steamer’s projections hold true, it would be a game-changer for the Angels. However, even with Schanuel’s potential improvement, the team still has a long way to go to return to relevance. What do you think? Is Schanuel poised for a breakout year, or are the Angels placing too much hope in unproven talent? Let us know in the comments!
