August 9th, 2024
Rhett Bollinger
@RhettBollingerThis story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger’s Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
NEW YORK -- It was an incredible series for Zach Neto and it meant even more to him because it came at Yankee Stadium.
He had a huge day at the plate on Wednesday, going a combined 4-for-9 with two homers, a double and eight RBIs in a doubleheader in the Bronx after a rainout Tuesday. He hit a two-run shot in a 5-2 loss in Game 1, and hit his first career grand slam and ripped a two-run double in an 8-2 win in the nightcap. He also went 3-for-4 with an RBI single in Thursday’s 9-4 win.
It added up to a historic showing for Neto, who became the first visiting shortstop to have a six-RBI game at any iteration of Yankee Stadium. He also became the first Angels shortstop with six RBIs in a game since Freddy Patek had seven against the Red Sox, on June 20, 1980. And Neto matched the club record for RBIs in a doubleheader, joining Lee Thomas (Sept. 5, 1961, vs. A’s), Bubba Morton (Sept. 5, 1967, at Baltimore) and Ron Jackson (July 4, 1976, at Minnesota).
“It was pretty memorable and an honor to do that,” Neto said. “But I didn’t even know how many [RBIs] I had. I was just trying to do everything I can to drive in runs and help us win the game.”
Neto, a Miami native, grew up idolizing Yankees legend Derek Jeter. So to play that same position as Jeter and accomplish the feat at his former home ballpark was especially gratifying for Neto. The 23-year-old also played three games at Yankee Stadium last April after being called up for the first time, and he went 2-for-9 with two doubles.
“I got a little taste of it last year,” Neto said. “But to finally be able to have this year under my belt and be able to come in here and be able to look around and with a clear mind, I think it was pretty cool to be here. I definitely had a couple of angels out there looking over me.”
Neto is starting to put big numbers up in his first full season in the Majors, and he is taking advantage of his move to the No. 2 spot in the order. He's hitting .266/.330/.463 with 16 homers, 25 doubles, 20 stolen bases and 60 RBIs in 112 games. He joined Darin Erstad and Carney Lansford as the only Angels infielders to record at least 15 homers and 20 stolen bases in a season.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Neto said. “Seeing it pretty well. And I think I've been putting a good amount of work in the cages and no batting practice and all that just to be able to translate in the game. I feel like it's starting to start to come around a little bit.”
Angels manager Ron Washington has a particularly close bond with Neto, as the two are inseparable in the dugout during games. Neto tries to soak up as much knowledge as he can. Washington said he constantly reminds him he’s not a home run hitter to keep him grounded and keep his swing from getting too big.
“I just tell him he’s not a 20-20 guy to take the focus off,” Washington said with a smile. “I just keep telling him he’s not a home run hitter, but he’s capable of hitting home runs. So just let it happen. We’ve got enough time for it to happen and you might end up with 25. So I just try to control his mind and his thinking, because sometimes he gets ahead of himself.”
Washington said the accolades will come with time for Neto, who is emerging as one of baseball’s best young shortstops. But he doesn’t want to Neto to have to worry about any of that and to just focus on what he can control.
“He was playing the Yankees so nationally that gets attention,” Washington said. “But this is his first full year. Let him just put it together and we will see where it goes next year. Every time you have young kids that seem to put a good year together, they come back and they call it a sophom*ore jinx. I just want him to keep playing baseball and not worry about anything. If he’s gonna get national attention, his game will get it. But all I want him to think about is just playing every single day, the best he can.”
