ANAHEIM -- According to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, one of the strongest connections inside the Los Angeles Angels clubhouse dates back long before the Major Leagues, as shortstop Zach Neto and first baseman Nolan Schanuel grew up competing against each other in South Florida.
Neto, from Miami, and Schanuel, who was raised in Boca Raton, first faced off as preteens and later crossed paths again in summer leagues during high school before Neto went on to star at Campbell University. Their long history has made Schanuel’s perspective on Neto’s rise especially meaningful.
“I think it's awesome growing up playing against him and just seeing what kind of player he was like,” Schanuel said. “Just watching him since my first time getting called up in 2023 and seeing how he's playing now and how much more comfortable he is, it kind of rubs off on other guys. He's just a great player, so being able to be teammates with him and watch him thrive is awesome.”
Neto’s rapid development has been evident. After being selected 13th overall in the 2022 MLB Draft, he has led the club in WAR in each of the past two seasons. In 2025, Neto posted a .257/.319/.474 slash line with 26 home runs and 26 stolen bases across 128 games, showcasing a blend of power and speed that positions him as a potential 30/30 candidate when healthy.
Zach Neto is projected for a third straight 20/20 season 😤 pic.twitter.com/9egggIGsCT
— MLB (@MLB) February 5, 2026
Durability remains a focus after he missed time early last season following shoulder surgery. Neto emphasized that staying on the field is critical not only for his performance but also for helping shift the team’s competitive outlook.
“I keep saying it around camp all the time, like we're not a young group anymore,” Neto said. “We all know what it takes now to get to that next level and play in October. It's just a matter of trusting each other.”
As Neto’s production has grown, so has his leadership role alongside veteran star Mike Trout. Despite experiencing multiple managerial changes early in his career, Neto said he has embraced the transition to new manager Kurt Suzuki while continuing to apply defensive routines learned from previous coaching staffs.
“I love it,” Neto said. “It’s not the way you want to start your career, having three different [full-time] managers. But Kurt is the man. He’s a special guy to be around.”
Suzuki has also taken notice of Neto’s preparation and consistency.
“The sky's the limit for him,” Suzuki said. “I'm sure he'd be the first one to tell you he wants to play a full season.”
Now entering his fourth season, Neto believes maintaining his daily approach and staying grounded in his roots will help him continue to evolve into one of the franchise’s defining players.