Zach Neto is the starting shortstop for the Los Angeles Angels, a Miami-born right-hander who reached the majors on April 15, 2023, at just 22 years old. What makes him stand out isn’t one tool — it’s two that rarely come packaged together at shortstop: real power and genuine speed.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Zach Neto
- Position: Shortstop
- Team: Los Angeles Angels
- Number: 9
- Bats / Throws: Right / Right
- Height / Weight: 5’11» / 185 lb
- Born: January 31, 2001 (25 years old) — Miami, Florida 🇺🇸
- MLB Debut: April 15, 2023
Background
Neto grew up in Miami, Florida, in a strong baseball environment that shaped him into a legitimate shortstop prospect. The Angels identified him as a future cornerstone at the position and called him up in April 2023. Since then, he has steadily improved on both sides of the ball, holding down one of the most demanding defensive spots on the field while developing into a consistent offensive contributor.
Professional Career
Neto’s first full season in 2024 showed exactly what kind of player the Angels had on their hands: a .249 AVG, 23 home runs, 77 RBI, 30 stolen bases and a .761 OPS. The 30-steal, 23-homer combo put him in rare company among shortstops across the American League.
His 2025 campaign was his best yet. Neto hit .257 with 26 home runs, 62 RBI, 82 runs scored, a .793 OPS and 26 stolen bases — numbers that cemented his status as one of the Angels’ most important pieces and kept his name in the conversation among the AL’s better young shortstops.
In 2026, the adjustments have been tougher. Neto is hitting .225 with 20 home runs, 52 RBI, 75 runs scored, a .725 OPS and 15 stolen bases. The power is still there; the rest of the game is a work in progress this year.
Career Stats at a Glance
- 2024 — LAA: .249 AVG | 23 HR | 77 RBI | 70 R | .761 OPS | 30 SB
- 2025 — LAA: .257 AVG | 26 HR | 62 RBI | 82 R | .793 OPS | 26 SB
- 2026 — LAA: .225 AVG | 20 HR | 52 RBI | 75 R | .725 OPS | 15 SB
Awards and Recognition
Neto hasn’t taken home a Silver Slugger or an MVP award yet, but his statistical trajectory keeps him firmly on the radar. Posting 20-plus home runs and 15-plus stolen bases in every season so far is a combination that very few shortstops in the American League can match, and that consistency is the kind of thing voters notice over time.
What Makes Him Interesting
The modern game asks a lot of shortstops — solid defense, on-base skills, some pop, maybe a few steals. Neto does most of that and then some. His 2024 season — 23 home runs paired with 30 stolen bases — is the kind of line that turns heads, because that blend of power and speed at shortstop genuinely doesn’t grow on trees. It’s the trait that keeps Angels fans excited about what he can still become.
