ANAHEIM, CALIF – The Los Angeles Angels have had an up-and-down week that included the highs of a series and season sweep of their dreaded cross-city rivals the Los Angeles Dodgers followed by nearly getting swept themselves after dropping two of three games against the Athletics, the bottom team of the American League West.
One bright spot that has followed the Angels has been the outstanding play of shortstop Zach Neto, who is having a career season with the club that drafted him. With little more than a month left in the regular season, Neto has already reached a career high in runs scored with 74 and has hit 21 home runs, just two long balls shy of his career-high set last season.
Along with his home runs, Neto’s 21 stolen bases on the season puts him in rare territory, becoming just the fourth Halos player in franchise history with multiple 20-20 seasons with the club, joining Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani and Don Baylor, all former MVP’s.
Neto has had a standout time lately, including a highlight reel moment of a walk-off hit on his bobblehead night, and he was especially great during the past stretch for the Angels, leading to his efforts being recognized by MLB on August 18 with an A.L. Player of the Week award alongside Francisco Lindor, who received the NL equivalent.
Nico Alba – The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Angels infielder Zach Neto (9) post walk-off interview during the MLB game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday July 25th, 2025 in Anaheim, California.
Over the past week Neto batted with a .320 average while hitting four home runs and knocking in eight RBI’s on his way to a massive 1.254 OPS.
This is Neto’s first Player of the Week selection, joining teammate Taylor Ward as the only two Angels to receive the designation in the 2025 season. Neto is also the first Angels shortstop to win the award since Erick Aybar in 2011.
When Neto spoke on the honor of becoming a multiple 20-20 player, he said, “It means a lot, especially where it all started at the end of last year and starting late this year [because of shoulder surgery]. Just coming back with all the perseverance and everything I had to overcome and stuff. I’m pretty grateful to be able to do it” (via Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.).
HERE COMES THE CHAOS 🧑🏫
Batting .320 (8/25) with 5 XBH, 4 HR, 8 RBI, and a 1.254 OPS in the last six games, Zach Neto is your A.L. Player of the Week! pic.twitter.com/TlZvtLmzvl
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) August 18, 2025
Neto has made a name for himself in his three seasons with the Angels, singling himself out as one of the best players on the team and likely the best player of the Angels’ emerging young core, which includes catcher Logan O’Hoppe, first baseman Nolan Schanuel and outfielder Jo Adell. To that point, Neto leads the team in wins above replacement with 2.9 (via FanGraphs), a testament to his breakout hitting ability and his stellar defense at the critical shortstop position.
At just 24 years old, Neto has a bright career ahead of him and with four years of team control left on his contract, he is poised to be the franchise shortstop for the Angels in the 2020’s and possibly beyond.