Zachary Adam Neto...Last name is pronounced: NET-oh...On Twitter: @ZachNeto25...Played collegiately at Campbell University, where he amassed a .403 (152/377) career average in three years along with 40 doubles, five triples, 27 home runs and 108 RBI...Big South Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022...During 2021 collegiate summer season, played for Brewster Whitecapsin Cape Cod League and North Adams SteepleCats in New England Collegiate Baseball League...In 2020, played for Delray Beach Lightning in South Florida Collegiate Baseball League and led league in home runs (six) and batting average (.439)...Prepped at Miami Coral Park Senior HS, where he was a three-time all-district team honoree after posting a career .407 average with 19 doubles, six triples, two home runs and 37 RBI...Originally signed by Angels scout Nick Gorneault.
2023
Completed first Major League season with Angels in 2023...Missed 54 games across two IL stints... Contract selected by Angels April 15; Made MLB debut that day against Boston...First player from 2022 MLB Draft to make Major League debut... Received the Angels’ 2023 Heart and Hustle Award presented by the MLBPAA... Was first player in MLB history to be hit by seven pitches within first 15 career games...Was hit by a pitch in an franchise record four straight games (April 18-21)... Was hit by pitches 16 times in 2023...His 11 HBP tied with Tim Locastro for the most through a player’s first 45 career games since at least 1901... Finished season with 17 multi-hit games...Had multiple extra base hits in back-to-back games on June 11-12; first Angels shortstop to do so since Gary Disarcina in 1995... Collected first MLB hit on April 17 against Brayan Bello (BOS)...First career HR came on May 9 against Framber Valdez (HOU)... Scored walk-off run May 5 vs. Texas on a wild pitch in the 10th inning... Finished a triple away from first career cycle May 24 vs. Red Sox, and recorded first career game with three hits... Had career-long seven-game hit streak from July 15-27...Batted .250 (8/32) with seven runs, one double, two home runs and five RBI during streak... Logged first career multi-homer game June 11 vs. Mariners... Recipient of Angels’ 2023 Bob Feller Act of Valor Award.
2022
Began season at Campbell University (Buies Creek, NC), where he hit .407 (81/199) with 23 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 50 RBI for the Fighting Camels...Paced Big South Conference in average, hits, doubles, runs scored (65) and OPS (1.283)…Also went 19-for-20 in stolen base attempts...Earned Big South Player of the Year honors for a second consecutive season...Selected by Angels in first round (13th overall) in First-Year Player Draft and was assigned to High-A Tri-City...Made professional debut with Dust Devils, July 30 vs. Spokane...Played in seven games for Tri-City and was promoted to Double-A Rocket City, Aug. 9...Batted .370 (17/46) across first 11 games for Trash Pandas and finished regular season with hits in 24 of 30 games, totaling a .320 (39/122) average with nine doubles, four home runs and 23 RBI...Played in all three Trash Pandas postseason games, including a homer in Game 2 of Southern League Division Series vs. Tennessee.
