Angels shortstop Zach Neto looks to take another step forward after encouraging season

Neto, 23, has already shown himself to be an above-average major league shortstop in his first full season, but he and Manager Ron Washington both believe he can be even better.

Sep 23, 2024 - 23:00

Angels shortstop Zach Neto looks to take another step forward after encouraging season

CHICAGO — The best offensive game of Zach Neto’s career came just about a week after he was at one of his lowest points, when the frustration in the 23-year-old was so great that Manager Ron Washington could see it in his swings.

“He went up there and almost broke his ankle twisting himself into the ground,” Washington said. “You can’t do that. You gotta stay under control.”

Days later, Neto slugged two homers and a go-ahead three-run double, on his way to a six-RBI game on Sunday that emphatically ended his slump.

It’s all been part of the growing process of his first full major league season. He’s shown the potential to be one of the game’s better shortstops, and also had some low points that demonstrated the improvement that’s still left.

“I’ve always grown up having a lot of success,” Neto said. “Finally having some success and failure, I think it’s a mix of emotions for me. It’s something I never had to deal with before. But now, here at the biggest stage, where it all counts and all eyes are on me, I think that’s where I have to be the bigger person and be able to overcome all that, and be the better man.”

The fact that both Neto and Washington acknowledge room for improvement bodes well for the Angels, because Neto is already an above-average shortstop at the plate and in the field.

With six games left in the season, Neto is hitting .248 with 23 home runs, breaking Jim Fregosi’s franchise record for homers by a shortstop. Neto has added 33 doubles, 30 stolen bases and an OPS of .761. The major league average OPS at shortstop is .730. He is one of nine shortstops in the majors to have at least 20 homers and is one of four to add at least 30 stolen bases.

“That’s pretty good for going through it for the first time,” Washington said. “But in his mind, he’s better than that. And he should be.”

He’s accumulated those numbers in something of a rollercoaster season, which is to be expected for a player so young.

Neto began the season with a .586 OPS through April 28. That was around the time that Neto changed the way he used his leg kick. Instead of lifting his leg on all pitches until there were two strikes, he began selectively using the two-strike approach on all pitches in some situations. His OPS went up to .791 over his next 80 games.

Around two months ago, Neto ditched his leg kick entirely, using the two-strike toe tap on all pitches.

His OPS from Aug. 3 to Sept. 5 was .887. Since then, though, it’s been .713, and that got a significant boost on Sunday.

Neto said he’ll re-evaluate the way he uses his leg kick in the offseason.

“It’s been pretty consistent, hitting the ball hard,” Neto said. “Just trying to be consistent with it. Just trying to do what’s best for me in the long run. Whatever that decision is, then I’m going to do that to the best of my ability.”

Defensively, Neto has the tools to be an elite shortstop. Washington, a guru of infielders throughout his career, has said Neto could win a Gold Glove someday. This year, Neto ranks fifth in the majors in Defensive Runs Saved. He is 36th of 39 qualified shortstops in Outs Above Average, though.

Neto admitted last month that his “mistakes have been taking my at-bats out to the field.” After a series of defensive miscues, including mental mistakes, Neto was pulled in the middle of a game by Washington on Aug. 31.

Reflecting weeks later, Neto acknowledged the work ahead.

“I think that’s the barrier right now for me,” Neto said. “It’s not physically, not emotionally. It’s mentally. Mentally is where I make my mistakes. I make decisions I don’t want to make. At the end of the day, that’s what happens. I’m trying to overcome that barrier. Overcome that adversity and I’ll be able to learn from it.”

None of that is a surprise to Washington, who often refers to Neto’s age and lack of experience. Neto was the Angels’ first-round draft pick, out of Campbell University, in July 2022. He was in the majors nine months later, after just 48 minor league games. He played 84 games in the majors in 2023, missing half the season with injuries.

This year, he’s remained healthy, plowing through the schedule by playing in 152 of the Angels’ 156 games, including 149 starts.

Washington said he expects Neto to take the mistakes of this season and learn from them, adding to the things he already does well, becoming an even better player.

Neto agrees.

“I look at this year as a stepping stone,” he said. “It didn’t start off the way I wanted. Then I was able to pick it up and be a little consistent there. Just grinding it out. It’s the most games I’ve ever played in my life, times two. It’s something new to me. I’m going to go into the offseason and kind of debrief, look at what I could do better, what I can consistently keep going. I think that’s the biggest thing.”