Rehabbing Zach Neto Impresses In Bees Opening Homestand

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah – Offseason shoulder surgery forced budding superstar shortstop Zach Neto to begin his 2025 season late, much to the benefit of the Salt Lake Bees. Amid all the hoopla and excitement of opening night for a new ballpark, Neto’s appearance in the leadoff spot and at short gave Beehive State baseball fans the chance to watch Neto before his inevitable return to the big leagues.

The Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, played the first game at their new hive on Tuesday, April 8.

“It’s going good and I’m feeling great,” Neto said about his rehab progress. “I get my third day here at shortstop, so I’m just excited to be on the field again.”

Zach Neto rehab assignment update…

31 PA, .320/.452/.760, 3 HR, 5/8 BB/K

Has played SS in three of the last four games.#RepTheHalopic.twitter.com/3NolIlB72E

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) April 9, 2025

The slugging shortstop opened his season with the Bees on the road, launching two home runs and driving in five in six games before making his home debut.

“It’s special,” Neto said when asked about leading off for the Bees in the home opener. “It’s definitely a blessing to go out there and lead off for us. It’s a lot of pressure, so I try to keep my composure.”

The one…the only…Zach Neto. pic.twitter.com/fn9qJRhLwQ

— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) April 11, 2025

Neto welcomed himself to the home crowd, becoming the first player to hit a home run off the left field videoboard at the Salt Lake Bees’ new Daybreak ballpark. The 24-year-old finished the night 2-for-3 with a walk, while showing no ill effects from his shoulder surgery defensively.

By the weekend, he had progressed to playing nine innings at shortstop, proving that his shoulder could withstand the rigors of a long MLB season.

Neto finished the homestand slashing .278/.381/.500 with a homer, double, and three walks in 18 at-bats. He is hitting .275 with three long balls and six RBI through 11 games. He is in the leadoff spot and playing shortstop tonight as the Bees continue their season against the Sacramento RiverCats.

The Angels began the season 9-6 without Neto, and hold a half-game lead over the second-place Texas Rangers.

About Zach Neto

A native of Miami, Florida, Neto played his college baseball at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina. He put himself on scouts’ radars by slashing .403/.500/.751 in 100 games. He ended his collegiate career with 40 doubles, 27 home runs, and 108 runs driven in.

Neto, the 13th selection of the 2022 MLB draft, became the first 2022 draft pick to debut in the big leagues when he went 0-for-4 for the Los Angeles Angels on April 15, 2023.

We think he's ready, @Angels.

Zach Neto sends a moonshot off a light post while on rehab assignment with the @SaltLakeBees. pic.twitter.com/qLkNoZR0sj

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 3, 2025

The power inside Neto’s 5’11, 185-pound frame immediately appeared at the big league level. He laced 17 doubles and hit nine homers while driving in 34 runs in 84 games as a rookie in 2023.

He played 155 games in 2024, improving his batting average from .225 as a rookie to .249 in his sophomore campaign. He ended the year with 43 doubles, 23 long balls, and 77 RBI.

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Salt Lake opens a six-game road trip against the Sacramento River Cats (San Francisco Giants) on Tuesday, April 15. First pitch is at 7:45 p.m.

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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24. 

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