Angels shortstop Zach Neto will not be ready for Opening Day, manager Ron Washington announced to the Halos beat this morning (link via Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register). Neto underwent shoulder surgery back in November, and the team said at the time that his Opening Day would be in jeopardy. However, Washington suggested that the 24-year-old shouldn’t need to miss too much time beyond Opening Day. An April activation from the injured list is possible, it seems.
Neto, 24, was the 13th overall pick in the 2022 draft and has quickly (and quietly) cemented himself as the Angels’ everyday shortstop. While other top picks and prospects have garnered more fanfare, Neto (like so many Angels draftees) sprinted through the minors. He made his MLB debut less than a year after being selected, and while he didn’t hit much as a rookie in 2023, he played sharp defense at shortstop and did enough to land the Opening Day shortstop job in 2024.
Last year brought a true breakout on both sides of the ball. Neto hit .249/.318/.443 — about 14% better than average, by measure of wRC+ — adding 23 homers, 34 doubles, a triple and 30 stolen bases (in 40 tries). Defensive Runs Saved pegged him as a plus defender, though Statcast was more bearish after agreeing on his quality glovework in 2023. Neto’s 18 errors could certainly use some cleaning up, but it’s clear that even with the uneven performance in ’24 he still has strong defensive tools; he ranked 13th among 60 qualified shortstops in terms of arm strength last year, per Statcast.
It’s long looked possible, if not likely, that Neto would require some time on the shelf to begin the season. Now that that’s cemented, the Angels have a few options they can take. Most straightforward would be simply installing utilityman Kevin Newman as the shortstop to begin the season. The Halos inked Newman on a one-year, $2.75MM deal early in the offseason. He’s a glove-first utility option who can provide sound defense while waiting for Neto’s rehab to complete.
Elsewhere in camp, the Angels have former All-Star Tim Anderson looking to reignite his career after a pair of calamitous seasons in 2023 (White Sox) and 2024 (Marlins). He’s on a minor league deal. Infielders Scott Kingery and Kyren Paris are both on the 40-man roster as well and could factor into the mix — whether as an option at shortstop or stepping into a bench role if Newman is pressed into everyday action.
In other news Anthony rendon has been ruled out for everyday…
“Ruled out for everyday”…Per Ron Washington, I’ve been taking noted malingerer Anthony Rendon to the airport practically every single day.
But, somehow, some way he keeps finding his way back and I’ve got to start all over again.
Rsox: That’s what he gets from playing next to Rendon.
Hip surgery will do that for a player. Rendon is probably done for his career.
LOL!
The only thing Rendon rules is his leather couch.
Tim Anderson rejoices.
@baseball. He might not be rejoicing very long because kingery is looking good and plays everywhere.
Rsox, I did not see that Anthony Rendon was mentioned in the story.
@angels. Let’s cue the same unfunny jokes. I haven’t seen trout, Joyce for walker rumors in awhile.
Last season, Newman was a solid and versatile utility guy for the Dbacks in short bursts. Good defense around the diamond and quality ABs – saw a lot of pitchs, got deep into counts, put the ball in play.
@angels. They want him to play utility. When neto comes back. With kingery looking decent so far he might take Anderson’s spot. I know perry was saying he liked his defense at all spots and baserunning. If Anderson can’t hit they might go with him.
Yeeeerrrr ruled OUT! (For Opening Day)
Is this breaking news. it was always atleast a month
Now they will only win 59 games instead of 60.
Neto’s a 5 WAR player. Show some respect to him and the Angels organization. That’s 59 wins instead of 64!
“Show some respect”…Exactly. I “respect” anyone who’s been thru 3 wars let alone 5.
@bauer. Get put some multi colored hair on my troll figure or atleast comb it.
I did. You’re looking in the wring place.
@Bauer Wouldn’t expect anything less from you. Unless I am wring in calling you wrong.
Idiots on parade, and look who’s the Grand Marshall. The wring leader.
I only realized now that my typo ‘wring’ is a good pun given my handle. Thanks.
Missing a month is only knocking him down to 4 WAR, so DDC’s win total drop of 1 was right on the money.
@my. I’m not a math genius, but if PECOTA has them projected at 74 wins -1 would put them at 73. Now if you want to say the angels suck just say it.
He put off surgery hoping rehab could do the trick.
It usually doesn’t work out. On second thought, does it ever work out?
@halo11fan. I know. Just saying April has been the projected date since the offseason started.
Do angel fans expect Anderson to make the squad while Neto is out? Utility infielder?
@ohyea. It’s either Anderson, jd Davis or kingery.
Anyone but Anderson.
@prunella. Realistically it’s probably between Davis and Anderson one will opt. If the one that makes the team sucks for a month they’ll call up moore, and have kingery in the minors.
@halo He didn’t put it off all that long. Many times Drs put off a surgery to see how well the injury is healing itself, rathe than go under the knife immediately. It is a fairly common practice.
I was initially upset when he put off surgery, but it’s very common for players to try to rehab these things.
It just never seems to work out.
@halo11fan. Yep the only one that worked out was Tanaka. Rendon has been putting off surgery since his rookie year. Lol
I thought we already knew he would be out to start the season. Nice to know that he might be back in April though.
@out. Apparently Ron was looking at the lineup sheet saying perry where’s neto.
Every report I saw during the offseason said he was expected to be out for the start of the season, but it wouldn’t be certain until spring training. When he reported he said doctors told him he was ahead of schedule, so there was at least some hope he might not miss any time.
The National Athletic Trainer’s Association?
Or maybe you mean nada?
It’s hard being a riddler with challenges /s
They’re leveraging Neto’s injury as a strategic opportunity to diversify their infield options and conduct a real-time evaluation, ensuring they are not overly reliant on a single player’s uncertain recovery.
@oldyork. The gm actually said that after the soler trade. That he’s not building the roster solely on being dependent on a single player. Looks like he delivered on it. The starting pitching is kinda week but the 3 is decent. People have said they kinda modeled it after the royals. Soriano as the ragans three vets and some rookie wild cards as the 5th. Hendricks can move to the bullpen.