Fastball

Los Angeles Angels Shortstop Nearing Top of Interesting List in Team History

In another edition of "strange but true," Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto is nearing the top of this list in team history.

Brady Farkas

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (9) takes batting practice against the Kansas City Royals prior to a game at Kauffman Stadium on Aug 20.
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (9) takes batting practice against the Kansas City Royals prior to a game at Kauffman Stadium on Aug 20. / Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

The Los Angeles Angels are mired in the midst of a very down season that has them likely to finish fourth in the American League West.

However despite that, shortstop Zach Neto has a chance to make some unique team history this season if he can hit just four more home runs. With four more blasts, Neto would own the record for highest home run total by a shortstop in a single-season in franchise history.

Per @StatsCentre on social media:

Most home runs in a season - (Primary) Shortstop with the @Angels franchise:
22- Jim Fregosi (1970)
19- Zach Neto (2024 via going deep in Tuesday's 9-5 victory vs KCR)
18- Fregosi (1964)
15- Fregosi (1965)
14- Andrelton Simmons (2017)
13- Fregosi (1966)
13- Dick Schofield (1986)

Given how powerful the shortstop position has become, it's shocking the Angels have never had a shortstop hit more than 22 blasts, but guys like David Eckstein were simply not power hitters.

The 23-year-old Neto is hitting .262 entering play on Wednesday night. He's got the 19 homers, 63 RBI and 22 stolen bases. He's posted a .327 on-base percentage and a 119 OPS+.

He was a first-round pick of the Angels back in the 2022 MLB Draft and was the first player from that draft class to make it to the big leagues.

The Angels will be back in action again on Wednesday night against the Kansas City Royals. First pitch from Kansas City is set for 8:10 p.m. ET as Johnny Cueto (LAA) pitches against Michael Lorenzen (KC). This will be Cueto's first game in the big leagues this season.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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