"Season Premiere for Stellar Angels Shortstop Zach Neto After Shoulder Injury"
The Los Angeles Angels' shortstop, Zach Neto, will make his first appearance of the season on Friday night against the San Francisco Giants after being activated from the 10-day injured list.
Neto sustained a shoulder injury last season on September 26th while sliding during a game against the Chicago White Sox. He underwent shoulder surgery in early November.
\"It's probably the closest thing to my debut and receiving that call, just arriving here and revisiting where it all began,\" Neto expressed to reporters before Friday's game. \"I am thrilled to be back and to work with the team again.\"
The Angels determined that Neto was prepared after playing in consecutive games on Tuesday and Wednesday at Triple-A Salt Lake. He is batting seventh in Friday's lineup.
\"He's been doing well,\" Angels' manager Ron Washington stated before Friday's game. \"He got hit on the wrist yesterday, but he's fine. So far, so good. He's on track to be where he needs to be.\"
Neto led the Angels with 77 RBIs and 30 stolen bases last season, and was second with 23 home runs and 70 runs while playing in 155 games. He was easily the team's top player with a 5.1 Wins Above Replacement, significantly higher than left-hander Tyler Anderson (3.0) and the second-best offensive player, Logan O'Hoppe (2.7).
The 24-year-old was the 13th overall pick in the 2022 draft and the first player from that class to reach the major leagues when he was called up in April 2023.
The Angels are undoubtedly pleased to have Neto back. Temporary replacements Tim Anderson (.171) and Kevin Newman (.136) are not performing well.
Additionally, infielder Nicky Lopez (0-for-6) was designated for assignment. Lopez, 30, has a career batting average of .247 with four teams, most notably the Kansas City Royals from 2019-23.
