Angels rookie Nolan Schanuel says he’s learned what it takes to play every day

CHICAGO Earlier this season, when Angels manager Ron Washington noticed that Nolan Schanuel didnt seem to have enough energy early in the day, he began benching his rookie first baseman for day games.

Schanuel finally got fed up with this, went into his managers office, and announced: Im ready to play.

Washington agreed, and he changed the lineup.

He said it hasnt been an issue since then.

Hes figuring it out mentally, Washington said on Tuesday.

When his body told him that something wasnt right, it affected him mentally.

Sometime in July, he turned it, where the mind started telling the body what to do.

He pushed through it.

Now hes figuring out, Wow, I can do this.

Going into next year, hes going to be much stronger for it.

Schanuel, 22, is nearing the end of his first major league season, but its also his first professional season.

He was in college last year.

The Angels first-round draft pick last July, Schanuel didnt play his first professional game until July 21 and he was in the majors on Aug.

18.

To say its been a whirlwind is an understatement.

It took Schanuel a while into this season to really learn what it took to play every day in the majors.

Coming to the field knowing we had a game every day, it was kind of different for me, Schanuel said.

Just getting used to that.

Once that kind of clicked, it just became easier.

Schanuel began the season hitting .093 with a .422 OPS in his first 14 games.

Ever since then save for a two-week stretch in late May and early June when he played through a back injury Schanuel has been on a steady climb.

He is clearly trying to sprint through the tape, so to speak, bringing a 13-game hitting streak into the final six games of the season.

Schanuel has hit .370 with a .933 OPS in the streak.

For the season, hes hitting .246 with a .346 on-base percentage and a .712 OPS.

The major league OPS at first base is .735.

Hitting-wise, my whole philosophy was getting on base for the guys behind me, Schanuel said.

I think I kind of stuck with that same approach.

Just set up the guys behind you, help the team win.

...

I pride myself on that.

Just get on base, help the team win.

Something I need to work on is the slug and helping get the guys in, scoring runs and getting some RBIs.

Schanuel has hit 13 home runs, which is low for a first baseman but better than many expected based on his low exit velocity.

Schanuel said increasing his bat speed is one of his goals for the offseason.

Washington said Schanuel has steadily improved across the board during his first season.

Total growth, Washington said.

Hes become different in many ways.

Hes learning about his capabilities at the plate.

Hes turning himself into a great first baseman.

Yes, its going to be a couple more years before he arrived there, but if youd have seen him in spring training, you wouldnt have thought that he would be doing what hes doing right now.

NOTES Asked if the Angels will be bringing back all of their coaches, Washington said: Yes, I anticipate everyone coming back.

...

Outfielder Jordyn Adams remains out of the lineup because of right knee soreness.

Washington said hes day to day.

...

The Angels still have not officially said that third baseman Anthony Rendon will be out for the rest of the season with his oblique injury, even though its now obvious that theres not enough time for him to return.

Were still working through that, Washington said.

We havent made a total decision on that yet.

Were still working through it.

If you make a common sense deduction you can answer that one.

UP NEXT Angels (LHP Jose Suarez, 1-2, 6.08 ERA) at White Sox (RHP Davis Martin, 0-5, 4.27 ERA), Wednesday, 4:40 p.m.

PT, Bally Sports West, 830 AM.

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