(Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Angels are 60-62, fourth in the AL West behind the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, and Seattle Mariners.
The team has struggled a lot since the trade deadline, and that’s with some key additions.
The third Wild Card is a possibility, but they are seven games behind and three teams are between them and the Toronto Blue Jays (the owners of the last WC).
At this point, the Angels need a miracle to go to their first postseason since 2014.
They are desperate to make that happen and are willing to take some risks.
They took some at the deadline, sending prospects to other teams to get Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Randal Grichuk and other players.
Now, they are taking another massive risk by calling up a 2023 draftee.
“The Los Angeles Angels are calling up first baseman Nolan Schanuel, who they took with the 11th overall pick in the draft less than six weeks ago and was in Double-A, sources tell ESPN. The 21-year-old from Florida Atlantic is hitting .370/.510/.493 in 21 minor league games,” MLB insider Jeff Passan tweeted.
The Los Angeles Angels are calling up first baseman Nolan Schanuel, who they took with the 11th overall pick in the draft less than six weeks ago and was in Double-A, sources tell ESPN. The 21-year-old from Florida Atlantic is hitting .370/.510/.493 in 21 minor league games.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 18, 2023
Schanuel is a lefty-hitting first baseman with excellent on-base skills and contact.
He is boasting a .339/.480/.475 line in 75 Double-A plate appearances.
The slash line Passan tweeted is from all his minor league appearances, combining Double-A with the Complex League and Single-A.
For the season as a whole, he has just one home run in 21 games.
Schanuel might be talented, but in all likelihood, he is not ready to consistently mash MLB pitching.
He is just 21 and has 75 plate appearances in the upper minors, and no Triple-A experience.
It’s certainly a bold move, but the Angels are desperate to convince Shohei Ohtani they are willing to do whatever it takes to win.
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