"I truly appreciate your support" - Zach Neto pens heartfelt gratitude to Halo Nation after Angels shortstop undergoes shoulder surgery
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto, who underwent a shoulder surgery earlier this week, has written a message of gratitude to Halo Nation for their support.
The 23-year-old injured his shoulder while sliding to second base against the Chicago White Sox in September. After a combination of rest and treatment didn't work, he underwent surgery and is expected to miss the start of the 2025 season. After his surgery, Neto penned a heartfelt note to fans on Instagram:
"I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has reached out during this time - I truly appreciate your support."
Zach Neto was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2022 MLB Draft and made his major league debut with them ther next year.
After moving in and out of the majors in 2023, he established himself as their regular shortstop with impressive performances this season. In what was the worst MLB season in franchise history for the Angels, Neto was one of the few bright spots.
He recorded an average of .249 with 23 home runs and 77 RBI in 155 games. However, his season was cut short on Sept. 26 when he sustained a shoulder injury. While he thanked fans for their support after his shoulder surgery, he informed them that the procedure went well and he is fully focused on recovery now.
Angels GM Perry Minasian coy about timeline on Zach Neto's recovery
Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian tolf reporters on Friday that Zach Neto had undergone surgery earlier this week.
He also admitted that the shortstop will likely miss the start of the next MLB season, but it remains to be seen for how long. When asked how long he expects the 23-year-old to be unavailable, Minasian said:
"I’m not one for timeframes. ... I can’t get into details. But he will miss some time. And how much time, we’ll see."
The Angels GM no doubt has a big job on his hands this winter, and losing one of their brightest talents to injury is not ideal. After recording 99 losses in a season for the first time in franchise history, Minasian will be eager to put it behind him and start the new season on a better note.