Florida Atlantic University has an extensive history with Major League Baseball. 15 FAU alumni have played in the majors, with three players currently playing.
Texas Rangers pitcher Austin Gomber, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés, and Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel. Former Owls player and current Brewers manager Pat Murphy has won two consecutive manager of the year awards in 2024 and 2025.
The Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, right beside FAU’s Jupiter campus, hosts spring training for the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, and also hosts two minor league teams in the Jupiter Hammerheads and Palm Beach Cardinals.
Tomorrow, the New York Yankees will take on the San Francisco Giants to start the 126th MLB season. In the coming days, these former Owls will start their respective seasons.
Nolan Schanuel, Los Angeles Angels First Baseman
Schanuel played for the Owls from 2021-23, during which he became the third FAU player ever to win Conference-USA’s “Player of the Year” award in 2023 and the first player to be named first-team All-American by multiple organizations. He also led Division I baseball in batting average and on-base percentage.
Schanuel posted 239 hits, 176 RBIs, 46 home runs, and 179 runs during his three years at FAU, and following his college career, he was drafted 11th overall in the first round by the Los Angeles Angels. Schanuel became the first Owl to be drafted in the first round in any professional sports league.
Schanuel would be called up to the majors as soon as his rookie season, becoming the fastest player to reach the major leagues in 45 years. He totaled 30 hits, one home run, and 19 runs in 29 games. Over the next two years, Schanuel has emerged as an exciting young player, totaling 259 hits, 25 home runs, 126 runs, and 174 strikeouts over 279 games in 2024 and 2025.
“Pro baseball is a grind, and you have to have a certain mental capacity and physical build to make it through 162 games in 184 days, but I love every single second of it,” Schanuel said to WBPF reporters.
One of the most decorated Owls athletes ever, he returned to FAU in February for the Owls baseball luncheon.
“The memories, the people, and being able to connect and go hit at the facility is awesome,” Schanuel also said to the WBPF following returning to campus.
Schanuel will be the Angels’ starting first basemen heading into 2026, heading into his fourth year at the age of 24.
Pedro Pagés, St. Louis Cardinals Catcher
Pagés, a Venezuelan-born catcher, played three years for FAU from 2017 to 2019. Pagés won the Conference-USA defensive player of the year, was a part of the All-USA second team, and was a team captain during his time at FAU.
During his time with the Owls, Pagés totaled 147 hits, 98 RBIs, and 14 home runs. After his college career, Pagés was drafted in the sixth round by the St. Louis Cardinals. Pagés played in the minors until 2024, where he made his MLB debut.
“I came over the [Poplar Street] bridge, and I was like, ‘Wow, we made it!’ And that’s when I got even more emotional,” Pages said. “I called my dad right away as we were crossing the bridge and talked to him. I was like, ‘Dad, we made it!’ Then, we just cried together again, and I went straight to the game.”
Pagés played in 68 games during his rookie year, recording 48 hits, seven home runs, and 27 RBIs while batting 23%. The next year, Pagés was an undeniable major leaguer, posting 83 hits, 11 home runs, and 45 RBIs while batting 23.8%.
Pagés heads into his third year in the majors and his seventh year with the Cardinals, and for the first time in his career, he’s projected to be the Cardinals’ starting center.
Austin Gomber, Texas Rangers Pitcher
Gomber, a Florida native, played two seasons for FAU from 2012-2014, where he was a first-team all Sun Belt conference pitcher in 2013. During his time at FAU, Gomber started 41 games, recorded 47 total strikeouts, and posted a 14-14 record.
Gomber was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
“Being part of such a great program with so much tradition, it’s an honor to be the fifth-highest pick in FAU history,” Gomber said to FAU reporters following being drafted by the Cardinals.
Gomber played four years in the minors before making his MLB debut on June 2, 2018. Gomber had a 6-2 record with the Cardinals in his first season, and played in and out of the majors until 2021, when he was traded to the Colorado Rockies.
Gomber had his ups and downs with the Rockies, starting 109 games over five seasons. After a 0-7 record in 2025, Gomber was released by Colorado in late 2025. In early 2026, Gomber signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers, looking to be called up for his eighth MLB season.
Schaunel, Pages, and Gomber all look to turn heads; they represent FAU’s most premier baseball alumni as the Cardinals, Angels, and Rangers all begin their seasons on Thursday.
Mikai Datilus is the Sports Editor for the University Press. Email him at [email protected] or DM him on Instagram @mikaidat for more information on this and other stories.
