Plummeting exit velocities and a vanishing plate presence have transformed the Angels' rising star into a liability, leaving the front office questioning his future in Anaheim.
Entering the 2026 campaign, Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto was seen as one of the MLB’s rising stars, on track to earn the first of multiple All-Star nods. Putting up 5.1 bWAR in 2024 and 5.3 in just 128 games last season, Neto improved his game in each category year after year.
This season hasn’t followed that trend, however. Instead, Neto has found himself taking a step back from his previous years, almost resulting in the Angels’ front office trading him before last week’s trade deadline.
So, what has happened to Neto, especially as of late? Let’s dive into the numbers to see why the Angels' young star is moving in the wrong direction.
Neto has never been a stellar defensive shortstop, so his value has mostly come from the plate and on the bases. His production at the plate has seen a major dip from last season, going from a .251 expected batting average in 2025 to just .198 this year.
When he does get the bat on the ball, Neto isn’t hitting it nearly as hard as he did in years past. His average exit velocity has dipped under 90 mph, and his .413 slugging has been a disappointment. The year as a whole has been a bit of a letdown for Neto and the Angels, but it’s been especially bad as of late.
Since the All-Star break, Neto’s bat has been missing from the Halos’ lineup. Slashing .176/.227/.253 with a 35 OPS+ in that time, it has been brutal for Neto at the plate in the last month.
With those numbers, Neto has been the worst-qualified shortstop in all of baseball, putting up -0.5 fWAR. His 34% strikeout and 5.2% walk percentages don’t help his case, as he has recorded a tragic 32 wRC+ since the break.
Neto has also struggled to be a factor on the basepaths this year, stealing just 14 bases in 24 tries. Compared to his 30 bags in 2024 and 26 last season with much better percentages, Neto is now a below-average player when it comes to baserunning.
Even his fielding has taken a step back, with his range dropping from an already-low fifth percentile in 2025 to the third percentile this season.
Declines in at-the-plate, baserunning, and defensive numbers are a recipe for disaster for Neto, who is still just 25 years old. It certainly contributed to the Angels being willing to trade him at the deadline, even though they ultimately decided they weren't comfortable with any offers.
It would have been a bold move for the Angels to get rid of Neto after just one down year, in which he still has been an above-average player in the context of the entire season. Even with his disturbing drops, especially in the last month, I believe Neto’s spot in Anaheim is an important one.
Trading away one of their young players with true star potential would have likely resulted in serious regret years down the line. The Angels aren't winning anyway, so might as well let Neto ride out this year and come back in 2027 with a heightened hunger.
Still, Neto’s play certainly deserves some concern, considering the lofty expectations the baseball world had for him entering the year. Angels fans will be hoping Neto can get back to average production at the plate in the last month and a half, even just to instill the slightest hope back into fans who may have soured on the former first-round pick. It’s possibly the biggest Angels storyline to keep an eye on for the remaining weeks – it could have huge repercussions once the offseason commences.
