Going into the 2022 offseason, one of the most significant holes the Los Angeles Angels had was at the shortstop position. The idea of signing then Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner was there. Not only did he choose to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Angels didn’t even make him an offer. Instead, general manager Perry Minasian used that money to fill the team’s other glaring weaknesses and add depth to the roster. With that choice, Los Angeles went into the season with no proven shortstop. It was the starting point for Zach Neto and his path to the majors.
Zach Neto with a three-run homer and the #Angels are up 4-0 in the second. It’s his third career homer. Came on a first-pitch fastball. pic.twitter.com/tC3yFrRtVy
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) May 25, 2023
Zach Neto Saved the Angels’ Season
Unfortunate Injuries to the Roster
When the season began, the Angels had another issue for the infield: All-Star Jared Walsh was on the IL. While it may not seem like a lot, Brandon Drury shifted from second base to first. Having a first baseman that is a good defender can make an average infield great. With Drury at first, there were better everyday options at that position, but it had to be done.
This injury made the first handful of games rough on the out-of-position infield. With a second baseman now playing first, the Angels had a revolving door at arguably the most crucial position in the infield. All this led the Angels to a record of 5-8 in the season’s first two weeks—a rather unimpressive mark for a team with playoff expectations. In contrast, they had a revolving door at the shortstop position.
Also, the Angels lost at the time Rookie of the Year candidate Logan O’Hoppe with a torn labrum. A loss like that makes a slight difference in the grand scheme. It made things tough on the organization that had already lost Max Stassi to a hip injury. The pitching staff liked O’Hoppe, especially Shohei Ohtani. Again this was a manageable issue when talking about the issues as a whole.
Calling Up Zach Neto
On Saturday, April 15, the Angels decided to call up the future shortstop Zach Neto to the major league roster. To do this, the Angels had to remove fan favorite David Fletcher from the 40-man roster and send him to Triple-A Salt Lake City. Who wants to put the team in the best position to win now and in the future? Nothing personal to Fletcher, but he was not what he was a few years ago; he was replaceable.
Neto didn’t get to the hottest of starts at the plate when he first came up. He started his career playing in Fenway Park, immediately followed up by Yankee Stadium, two hollowed stadiums in the sport. It was daunting for a 22-year-old rookie who was only months removed from playing college. The biggest thing he brought out the gate to the Angels was that steady glove at a desperately needed position. Just that one move allowed Drury to move back to 2nd base, allowing the better defender Gio Urshela to handle first until Walsh got back to the team.
Most importantly, being in a spot that allows a young player to fail in one aspect while being able to shine in something else is excellent. Neto got the chance to learn how to adjust to the flow of the major leagues. Again the most significant thing he brought was a solid glove to the middle infield that needed it. With Neto being called up, the ever-shifting infield was finally in a winning position.
A Turning Point for the Angels
Since the call-up of Zach Neto, the Angels are 21-16. It is a small sample size, but it shows what an excellent young player can do to a team going in the wrong direction. Neto has only made two errors so far and has already made a handful of stellar plays in the short 36 games he has played in. Most of that was with a bat that wasn’t at its full potential.
On top of a young star in the making getting a shot at a primer position, they also saw the return of Jared Walsh. Someone else who helps had a more solid defense to the infield that needs it. The Angels, for the most part, have been passive when promoting their young stars. Seeing Neto get called up aggressively was a refreshing sight, primarily when the other transactions were done to remove dead contracts of players who weren’t playing well anymore.
Baseball’s season is 162 games long that spans over six months. There will be plenty of ups and downs for every player and team. Most of the time, you weather the storm until everyone returns to total health. Sometimes, the young energy that a rookie can bring to a team is a breath of fresh air. It takes 26 players to win a World Series, and those moves can be made early in the season.
Photo Credit: © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Players mentioned:
Zach Neto, Trea Turner, Jared Walsh, Brandon Drury, Logan O’Hoppe, Max Stassi, Shohei Ohtani, David Fletcher, Gio Urshela
