Nolan Fontana
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Position:
SS
Born:
06/06/91
Height:
5'11"
Weight:
205
B/T:
L/R
Acquired:
Claimed off waivers from the Astros on Nov. 22, 2016 (LAA). Originally drafted in the second round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft (HOU).
Most Recent Stats at Time of Debut
| Hitting .265 with five home runs, 25 RBIs, three stolen bases and seven doubles in 38 games at Salt Lake (Triple-A), along with a .426 SLG. |
Info & MLB Debut Date
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Recalled from Salt Lake on May 22, when INF C.J. Cron was sent down. MLB Debut Date: 05/22/17 |
Debut Details
| May 22, in a 3-2 win over the Rays. The starting second baseman, he batted ninth and went 0-for-3. In the second inning, against right-handed starter Jake Odorizzi, with one out and one on he grounded into a 3-6 forceout to erase baserunner Martin Maldonado at second. He then made the third out when he was caught trying to steal second. In the fifth inning, he struck out swinging. In the seventh inning, facing right-handed reliever Jumbo Diaz, he flew out to right field. |
Player Notes
| While Fontana has not reached the level of "top prospect" that his rather lofty draft status might have predicted, he has made it to the bigs largely on the basis of his infield versatility, plate discipline and grit. He won't hit for much average or power and won't steal many bases, but he can be "that guy" who can be inserted in any spot at any time. In 2016, he combined to hit .203 in 116 games between Corpus Christi (Double-A) and Fresno (Triple-A) in his fifth season in the Astros organization, hitting three home runs and driving in 31. Waived during the off-season and picked up by the Angels, he made it through most of spring training with his new club and clearly made enough of an impression for them to summon him before May was through. |