Zach Neto Bio
Zachary Adam Neto (born January 31, 2001) is an American professional baseball shortstop for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Campbell Fighting Camels and was selected by the Angels in the first round of the 2022 MLB draft before making his MLB debut in 2023. Known for his combination of power and speed, Neto has quickly developed into one of the franchise’s most important young players.
Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 178 pounds, Neto brings a compact frame and an aggressive offensive approach to the middle of the infield. His ascent from an overlooked high school prospect in Miami to a franchise cornerstone has been one of the more compelling stories in recent Angels history.
Early Life and Background
Zachary Adam Neto was born on January 31, 2001, in Miami, Florida, as one of three children in a working-class Cuban American family. His father, Joaquin Neto, is a mailman, and his mother, Magali Neto, is an AT&T employee. Growing up in a baseball-loving household, Neto became a Miami Marlins fan and learned the game directly from his father, who introduced him to the fundamentals of the sport at a young age.
Neto began high school at Doral Academy Preparatory School but left after two weeks. He later enrolled at Miami Coral Park Senior High School, where he posted a career .407 batting average and was selected to three All-District teams. Despite his production, he did not receive significant college scouting attention, in part because of the high leg kick in his swing mechanics. He went unselected in the 2019 Major League Baseball draft and did not receive an athletic scholarship offer from any Power Five university. Through college bus tours organized by local scout Lazaro Llanes, Neto was first introduced to Campbell University and committed to play for the Campbell Fighting Camels prior to his senior year.
Path to Professional Baseball
After honoring his commitment to attend Campbell University, Neto enrolled for the fall 2019 semester. He arrived on campus at 5 feet 10 inches and 160 pounds and began eating six meals a day at the school’s cafeteria to support a new weight training regimen. He began the 2020 season recovering from cyst removal surgery on his right hand, and Campbell intended to use him as a two-way player before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That summer, he played for the Delray Beach Lightning in the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League, batting .439 with six home runs and 32 RBIs over 40 games while also posting a 4.50 ERA in 10 pitching appearances.
In 2021, Neto batted .405 with 12 home runs, 58 RBIs, 17 doubles, and 12 stolen bases across 44 starts at shortstop. On the mound, he went 4-0 with a 3.43 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 21 innings in 11 relief appearances. Following the season, he was named the Big South Conference Player of the Year, first-team all-Big South, and received All-American selections from multiple organizations. That summer, he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Brewster Whitecaps, where he battled an ankle sprain and ultimately rejoined the roster, finishing at .304 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 16 games.
Prior to the 2022 season, Neto was named to the watchlist for the Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the best amateur baseball player in the country. He finished the regular season batting .407 with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs across 53 games, leading Campbell to Big South regular season and tournament championships along with a berth in the 2022 NCAA tournament. He was named Big South Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and earned first-team All-American honors from Perfect Game.
Zach Neto Career
Early Career (2022)
The Los Angeles Angels selected Neto in the first round with the 13th overall pick of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft, making him the highest draft pick in Campbell baseball history. He signed with the team for $3.5 million and was initially assigned to the Tri-City Dust Devils of the High-A Northwest League. In seven games there, he batted .200 with one home run and four RBIs before being promoted to the Rocket City Trash Pandas of the Double-A Southern League on August 9. Over 30 games with Rocket City, he batted .320 with four home runs and 23 RBIs, and between the two affiliates he finished the season batting .299 with five home runs, 27 RBIs, and five stolen bases in 37 games.
By mid-August 2022, MLB.com had listed Neto as the second-best prospect in the Angels’ farm system, trailing only trade-deadline acquisition Logan O’Hoppe. His rapid rise through the minor leagues set the stage for his eventual promotion to the major leagues the following spring.
MLB Breakthrough (2023-2024)
Neto returned to Rocket City to open the 2023 season and hit .444 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in seven Double-A games. On April 15, 2023, the Angels selected his contract to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues, making him the first member of the 2022 MLB draft class to debut. A day later, he collected his first major league hit, a single into left field. He was hit by a pitch seven times in his first 15 major league games, setting an MLB modern-era record. On May 9, he hit his first major league home run, a solo shot off Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez, and on June 12, he recorded his first career multi-home run game in a 9-4 win over the Seattle Mariners. An oblique strain and low back inflammation limited his playing time later in the year, but he was named the MLBPAA Angels Heart and Hustle Award for the first time in August 2023.
In 2024, Neto played 155 games for the Angels, slashing .249/.318/.443 with 23 home runs, 77 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases. On August 7, he hit his first career grand slam and collected six RBIs in an 8-2 win over the New York Yankees in the second game of a doubleheader, becoming the first visiting shortstop to record a six-RBI game at Yankee Stadium. On August 30, he hit his 20th home run of the season against the Detroit Tigers, tying Jim Fregosi’s Angels single-season home run record for a shortstop while also reaching 20-20, joining Mike Trout as the only Angels with a 20-20 season before age 24 and becoming the first infielder in franchise history to accomplish the feat. On November 8, 2024, the Angels announced that Neto had undergone shoulder surgery to repair an injury suffered in the final week of the season.
Los Angeles Angels Era (2025)
Neto missed the start of the 2025 season while recovering from right shoulder surgery. In April 2025, he began a rehab assignment with the Angels’ Triple-A affiliate before returning to the majors. On April 18, he delivered an RBI double in his first at-bat back, and on June 2, he helped the Angels launch three home runs in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, marking the first time a visiting club had hit three home runs in the opening inning at that ballpark. On July 25, he notched his first career walk-off hit in the bottom of the 10th inning of a 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners, and on August 13, he turned a Shohei Ohtani liner into the eighth triple play in club history. He earned his second MLBPAA Angels Heart and Hustle Award in August 2025 and was later named AL Player of the Week for the first time on August 18 after batting .320 with four home runs and eight RBIs.
On August 15, Neto hit his 20th home run of the season against the Athletics, reaching 20-20 for the second straight year and becoming the fourth player in Angels history with multiple 20-20 seasons, following Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Don Baylor, and the sixth shortstop in American League history with multiple 20-20 campaigns. On September 16, he was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a hit by pitch on his left hand on August 20, ending his season. He finished 2025 slashing .257/.319/.474 with 26 home runs, 29 doubles, 26 stolen bases, and 62 RBIs across 128 games, leading the Angels in Wins Above Replacement for a second consecutive year at 5.0 WAR.
Driving Style and Strengths
Neto is recognized for his aggressive, all-fields approach at the plate, combining pull-side power with the speed to swipe more than 20 bases in a season. Defensively, he shows strong instincts and range at shortstop, with the athleticism to execute highlight-reel plays such as the eighth triple play in Angels history. His competitive edge and willingness to play through contact have made him a focal point of the Angels’ lineup and infield.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career milestones, Neto became the first member of the 2022 draft class to reach the majors, the first visiting shortstop to drive in six runs at Yankee Stadium, the first Angels infielder to record a 20-20 season, and the fourth player in franchise history with multiple 20-20 campaigns. He is also a two-time MLBPAA Angels Heart and Hustle Award winner and a former AL Player of the Week.
Zach Neto Career Wins
Zachary Adam Neto has compiled a growing list of achievements across his college and professional career. In the majors, his standout seasons include 23 home runs and 30 stolen bases in 2024, followed by 26 home runs and 26 stolen bases in 2025. He has been a consistent run producer, exceeding 60 RBIs in each of his last two full seasons and leading the Angels in Wins Above Replacement in 2024 and 2025.
MLB Highlights
Through his first three major league seasons, Neto has established himself as a middle-of-the-order threat, combining double-digit home run totals with elite base-running production. His 2024 campaign included his first grand slam and a franchise-defining 20-20 milestone, while his 2025 season featured his first walk-off hit and a record-setting three-home-run first inning at Fenway Park. He has earned two Heart and Hustle Awards and an AL Player of the Week honor.
Other Wins and Performances
At Campbell University, Neto was a two-time Big South Player of the Year, a first-team All-American selection, and the Big South tournament MVP during the 2022 championship run. He was also a Cape Cod Baseball League participant with the Brewster Whitecaps and a standout in the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League with the Delray Beach Lightning.
Zach Neto Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Zachary Adam Neto comes from a working-class Cuban American family in Miami, Florida. His father, Joaquin Neto, is a mailman, and his mother, Magali Neto, is an AT&T employee. He grew up in a baseball household, learning the game from his father and rooting for the Miami Marlins as a child. The family’s support and Cuban American roots have played a central role in shaping his identity and work ethic.
Personal Life
Zachary Adam Neto grew up in Miami, Florida, with two siblings. He was raised by his parents, Joaquin Neto and Magali Neto, in a close-knit family that has remained central to his life and career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a defining one for Zachary Adam Neto, even though it began on the injured list as he recovered from offseason right shoulder surgery. He returned to the Angels in mid-April and quickly reasserted himself as a dynamic offensive force, producing extra-base hits in his first at-bat back and reaching 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases for the second straight year. He became the fourth player in franchise history with multiple 20-20 seasons, joining Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Don Baylor, and the sixth shortstop in American League history to accomplish the feat.
Neto’s late-summer surge included a walk-off single against the Seattle Mariners, a triple play turned against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and a record-setting three-home-run first inning at Fenway Park that helped pace the Angels’ offense. He earned AL Player of the Week honors for the week of August 18 after batting .320 with four home runs, eight RBIs, and a 1.254 OPS. A hit-by-pitch injury to his left hand ultimately ended his season in mid-September, but he still finished the year slashing .257/.319/.474 with 26 home runs, 29 doubles, 26 stolen bases, and 62 RBIs across 128 games.
Neto led the Angels in Wins Above Replacement for the second consecutive season at 5.0 WAR, cementing his status as the team’s most valuable player. With another year of growth ahead and a clean bill of health expected by spring, the Angels will look to their young shortstop to anchor both the lineup and the infield defense heading into the next season.
