Angels shortstop Zach Neto underwent shoulder surgical procedure and will miss the beginning of the 2025 season. Common supervisor Perry Minasian knowledgeable reporters resembling Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com (X link) and Sam Blum of The Athletic (X link), although didn’t specify the precise nature of the damage or process.
Per Minasian, Zeto sustained the damage enjoying in Chicago throughout the membership’s ultimate week of the season. Whereas enjoying the White Sox on Sept. 26, Zeto was on first base and tried to take second on a ball within the dust (video link from MLB.com). After sliding headfirst into the bag and getting thrown out, he was clutching at his proper shoulder and clearly in ache. The Angels then hosted the Rangers for the ultimate three video games of the season, however Neto didn’t play in these.
Over a month has now handed since that damage. Per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register (X link), Neto tried rehabbing however nonetheless had some lingering points, so it appears he needed to go below the knife.
Although the precise particulars of the scenario haven’t been relayed, the timetable will not be excellent news for the Angels. Neto has lower than two years within the huge leagues however has taken over the membership’s shortstop job and carried out nicely. He simply wrapped up a 2024 season through which he hit 23 dwelling runs and slashed .249/.318/.443 for a wRC+ of 114 wRC+. The critiques of his protection have been combined, however he stole 30 bases on the yr. Placing his complete efficiency collectively, FanGraphs graded him as value 3.5 wins above substitute on the yr, tops on the workforce.
The membership simply wrapped up its worst season in franchise historical past, going 63-99. Regardless of that, proprietor Arte Moreno said last month that they deliberate to extend payroll and attempt to compete in 2025. They’ve already acquired slugger Jorge Soler from Atlanta and signed pitcher Kyle Hendricks as they try to improve the roster.
Turning a 99-loss workforce right into a contender was all the time going to be a problem, particularly for a franchise that has frequently fallen wanting expectations. In recent times, it has had two-way star Shohei Ohtani and one thing close to peak Mike Trout on the identical roster however couldn’t even get its win-loss document over .500. Now, it has misplaced Ohtani, whereas Trout has develop into more and more absent attributable to accidents as he pushes in the direction of his mid 30s.
Cobbling collectively a winner in 2025 will now solely develop into tougher as its high contributor from 2024 can be lacking time. Since Neto will presumably be again sooner or later, it in all probability gained’t go after an enormous free agent like Willy Adames to fill the spot for a brief absence. Maybe it should maintain a watch out for multi-positional gamers that might fill the void after which transfer to a different spot as soon as Neto is wholesome.
It’s additionally attainable that the Angels have already been on this path. Tremendous utility participant Scott Kingery was despatched from the Phillies to the Angels final week, with the Halos including him to their roster shortly thereafter to stop him from reaching minor league free company. Kingery performed principally shortstop in Triple-A this yr, additionally spending a while at second base and middle subject. He hit 25 dwelling runs and stole 25 bases, slashing .268/.316/.488. He has a line of simply .229/.280/.387 in his main league profession however could be a positive utility man if he carried out the best way he did within the minors in 2024.
Luis Rengifo can also be on the roster and might play all around the diamond, although he’s probably not thought of a robust defender anyplace and might be higher suited to a less-demanding spot like second base. Kyren Paris is on the 40-man however has simply 105 main league plate appearances with a tough line of .110/.214/.165 in these. Maybe the membership will maintain a watch out for different depth choices in free company, the commerce market or on the waiver wire.
How the roster shakes out can be decided within the months to come back. For now, it’s a setback for the Halos. They’ve a roster with loads of query marks, however shortstop wasn’t certainly one of them earlier than this information.