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 Los Angeles Angels in the first round, 13th overall, of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft. Neto made his MLB debut in 2023 and quickly became one of the most talked-about young shortstops in the American League.
Neto is recognized for his combination of power and speed, a profile that has produced multiple 20-20 seasons before his mid-twenties. In addition to his on-field performance, he is widely regarded as a leader in the Angels clubhouse and has twice received the MLBPAA Angels Heart and Husture Award.
Early Life and Background
Zachary Adam Neto was born on January 31, 2001, in Miami, Florida, and grew up in a working-class Cuban American family as one of three children. His father, Joaquin Neto, works as a mailman, while his mother, Magali Neto, is an AT&T employee. Neto grew up cheering for the Miami Marlins and learned the fundamentals of the game from his father.
Neto began his high school career at Doral Academy Preparatory School before transferring to Miami Coral Park Senior High School. At Coral Park, he posted a career .407 batting average and earned three All-District selections, although his high leg kick in his swing limited his college scouting attention. 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 a local scout named Lazaro Llanes, Neto was introduced to Campbell University. Prior to his senior year, he committed to play college baseball for the Campbell Fighting Camels, setting the stage for his rapid rise as a prospect.
Path to Professional Baseball
Neto honored his commitment and enrolled at Campbell University in fall 2019, arriving on campus at 5 feet 10 inches and 160 pounds. He committed to a strict weight training regimen and began eating six meals a day to add strength for his college career.
The 2020 college season was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting Neto to just four games. He spent that summer playing for the Delray Beach Lightning of the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League, batting .439 with six home runs and 32 RBIs across 40 games while also pitching to a 4.50 ERA in 10 appearances. His two-way versatility became a defining feature of his amateur profile.
In 2021, Neto batted .405 with 12 home runs, 58 RBIs, 17 doubles, and 12 stolen bases over 44 starts at shortstop. He was named the Big South Conference Player of the Year, earned first-team all-Big South honors, and received multiple All-American selections. He followed that with a strong summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Brewster Whitecaps.
Entering 2022, Neto was named to the Golden Spikes Award watchlist and led Campbell to Big South regular-season and tournament championships. He batted .407 with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs over 53 games, was named Big South Player of the Year for the second straight season, and earned first-team All-American recognition from Perfect Game. MLB.com and The Sporting News ranked him 17th among draft prospects, while Keith Law of The Athletic ranked him 9th.
Zach Neto Career
Minor League Career (2022–2023)
The Los Angeles Angels selected Neto in the first round with the 13th overall pick of the 2022 MLB draft, making him the highest draft pick in Campbell baseball history. He signed with the Angels for $3.5 million and was initially assigned to the Tri-City Dust Devils of the High-A Northwest League. After batting .200 with one home run in seven games, he was promoted on August 9, 2022, to the Rocket City Trash Pandas of the Double-A Southern League.
Over 30 games with Rocket City, Neto batted .320 with four home runs and 23 RBIs, finishing his first professional season with a combined .299 average, five home runs, 27 RBIs, and five stolen bases in 37 games. He returned to Rocket City to open 2023 and batted .444 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in seven games before being called up to the majors.
Los Angeles Angels Debut and Rookie Season (2023)
On April 15, 2023, Neto was added to the Angels 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues, becoming the first member of the 2022 draft class to reach the majors. The next day, he picked up his first MLB hit, a single into left field, and eventually scored on the play.
Neto set an MLB modern-era record by being hit by a pitch seven times in his first 15 major league games. On May 9, 2023, he hit his first major league home run, a solo shot off Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez. He later added his first career multi-home run game on June 12, 2023, in a 9-4 win over the Seattle Mariners.
An oblique strain in mid-June sent Neto to the injured list, and low back inflammation in August cost him additional time. Despite the injuries, he was named the MLBPAA Angels Heart and Hustle Award winner for 2023, signaling his early impact on the franchise.
Los Angeles Angels Breakout (2024)
Neto opened the 2024 season with the Angels and quickly established himself as a middle-of-the-order threat. On August 7, 2024, he hit his first career grand slam and drove in six runs in an 8-2 win over the New York Yankees, becoming the first visiting shortstop to record a six-RBI game at Yankee Stadium.
On August 30, 2024, he hit his 20th home run of the season against the Detroit Tigers, tying Jim Fregosi for the Angels single-season home run record by a shortstop. In the same stretch, he reached 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, joining Mike Trout as the only Angels with a 20-20 season before age 24 and becoming the first infielder in franchise history to record a 20-20 season.
Neto played 155 games in 2024, slashing .249/.318/.443 with 23 home runs, 77 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases. On November 8, 2024, it was announced that he had undergone shoulder surgery to repair an injury suffered during the final week of the season.
Los Angeles Angels Comeback (2025)
Neto missed the opening of the 2025 season while recovering from right shoulder surgery and began a rehab assignment in Triple-A before returning to the majors. On April 18, 2025, he delivered an RBI double in his first at-bat back with the Angels.
On June 2, 2025, the Angels launched three home runs, including a leadoff shot by Neto in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox, marking the first time a visiting club hit three home runs in the first inning at Fenway Park. He later hit his first career walk-off hit on July 25, 2025, in the bottom of the 10th inning against the Seattle Mariners, and was again named the MLBPAA Angels Heart and Hustle Award winner.
On August 13, 2025, against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Neto turned Shohei Ohtani’s liner into the eighth triple play in Angels history. Two days later, he hit his 20th home run of 2025 against the Athletics, securing a second straight 20-20 season and joining Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Don Baylor as the only Angels with multiple 20-20 seasons.
Driving Style and Strengths
Neto pairs right-handed power with above-average speed, allowing him to impact games in multiple ways. His aggressive baserunning and willingness to crowd the plate have led to frequent hit-by-pitch totals, while his arm strength and range make him a reliable defender at shortstop. Coaches have praised his leadership presence and his ability to stay engaged through long MLB seasons.
Notable Events and Milestones
Neto became the first member of the 2022 MLB draft class to debut in the majors and the first infielder in Angels history to record a 20-20 season. He tied Jim Fregosi’s franchise record for home runs by a shortstop and joined Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Don Baylor as the only Angels with multiple 20-20 seasons.
Zach Neto Career Wins and Honors
Across his MLB career, Zach Neto has accumulated wins through milestone performances rather than a traditional pitch-and-win ledger. He has authored two 20-20 seasons, a grand slam against the New York Yankees, and multiple walk-off highlights with the Los Angeles Angels.
MLB Highlights
Neto’s first MLB home run came off Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez on May 9, 2023, and his first career multi-home run game followed on June 12, 2023, against the Seattle Mariners. In 2024, he hit his first career grand slam with six RBIs against the New York Yankees and tied Jim Fregosi’s Angels single-season home run record for a shortstop with his 20th homer of the year.
His most recent milestone came on August 15, 2025, when his 20th home run of the season secured his second consecutive 20-20 campaign. On September 16, 2025, a hit-by-pitch injury from August 20 effectively ended his season; he finished 2025 slashing .257/.319/.474 with 26 home runs, 29 doubles, 26 stolen bases, and 62 RBIs in 128 games, leading the Angels in Wins Above Replacement at 5.0.
Other Wins and Performances
At Campbell University, Neto was a two-time Big South Conference Player of the Year, a Big South tournament MVP, and a first-team All-American by Perfect Game. He was also a finalist-level candidate for the Golden Spikes Award in 2022 and signed a $3.5 million bonus with the Angels after being selected 13th overall.
Zach Neto Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Zachary Adam Neto was raised in a working-class Cuban American family in Miami, Florida. His father, Joaquin Neto, works as a mailman, while his mother, Magali Neto, is an AT&T employee. Neto is one of three children and learned baseball directly from his father, a foundation that shaped his early development as a shortstop.
Personal Life
Zachary Adam Neto grew up as a fan of the Miami Marlins and remains closely tied to his Miami roots. Public records on his marital status and children are not widely documented, and details beyond his immediate family and college commitments are limited.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was defined by Zach Neto’s return from offseason shoulder surgery. After starting the year on a rehab assignment in Triple-A, he rejoined the Angels on April 18 and immediately delivered an RBI double in his first at-bat back in the majors.
Neto produced several highlight-reel moments, including a leadoff home run against the Boston Red Sox on June 2 that contributed to a historic three-homer first inning at Fenway Park, and a walk-off single in the 10th inning against the Seattle Mariners on July 25. He also converted Shohei Ohtani’s line drive into the eighth triple play in Angels history on August 13.
On August 15, his 20th home run of the season against the Athletics gave him a second straight 20-20 season and made him the fourth Angel with multiple 20-20 campaigns. A hit-by-pitch injury in August eventually landed him on the injured list on September 16 and ended his season, but he still led the team with 5.0 Wins Above Replacement while slashing .257/.319/.474 with 26 home runs and 26 stolen bases.