Neto has discovered the ability to work the count in his first plate appearance since moving into the leadoff spot.
ANAHEIM ― When the Angels moved Zach Neto into the leadoff slot on April 29, the rookie shortstop didn’t have a wealth of experience to draw upon. Not as a professional before last month; he was only drafted in June 2022. Not in college or even in high school, Neto said, where he always batted in the middle of the order.
“My job is to see as many pitches as I can,” he said. “If I’m not on base, just see as many pitches, be that scout. If I come in the dugout, I tell everybody ‘this is how his pitches are moving,’ whether it was hard, fast, slow ― things like that. That’s pretty much a scouting report at-bat, but I’m still trying to do damage, put the ball in play and get on base in front of other guys.”
The hits haven’t been falling as much. Neto is hitting .246 overall. His .333 on-base percentage has been boosted by seven hit by pitches compared to the two leadoff walks ― his only two walks since his debut. It was the fourth time Estévez has been used in a spot typically reserved for a closer since the Angels’ five-game winning streak began. With left-hander Jose Quijada done for the season, manager Phil Nevin conceded that Estévez is the Angels’ primary closer now.
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