Zach Neto Aiming for All-Star and 30-30 Season in 2025

Los Angeles, CA — Zach Neto, the shortstop for the Los Angeles Angels, had a breakout season in 2024, and he is setting ambitious goals for 2025. “Selfishly, hopefully be an All-Star and a 30-30 season,” Neto said about his aspirations for this year.

In his first full season with the Angels, Neto hit 23 home runs and stole 30 bases across 155 games. His performance earned him the title of the first Angels infielder to achieve a 20-20 season. However, a shoulder injury late in the season delayed his debut for 2025 until April 18.

Since returning, Neto has made a strong impact. He has already recorded eight home runs and 19 runs batted in through 32 games this season. Leading the Angels, he boasts a .287 batting average, and his 142 OPS+ indicates his strong offensive performance. His .874 OPS is the second-highest on the team, surpassed only by Matthew Lugo. Impressively, Neto’s .541 slugging percentage is the best among all MLB shortstops with at least 50 plate appearances.

Should Neto achieve his goal of a 30-30 season, he will join an exclusive club of Angels players, alongside Mike Trout (2012) and Bobby Bonds (1977), who have reached this milestone.

Despite his lofty individual goals, Neto emphasizes teamwork. “As a team, just keep doing what we’ve been doing. It’s been working, it’s been a lot of fun,” he stated. He adds that the focus is on consistency and holding each other accountable, rather than fixating on personal statistics.

The Angels recently enjoyed an eight-game win streak, climbing the AL West standings. After a loss to the Miami Marlins on Saturday, the Angels now sit third in their division, just two games behind the Kansas City Royals for an AL Wild Card Spot. Neto has contributed significantly during the streak, getting a hit in each of the team’s first seven wins and in eight of his last nine games.

While Neto was out of the lineup on Sunday against the Marlins, the Angels hope to see him continue this strong performance after a well-deserved rest day.