Zach Neto

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #2 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
  
  Track Record: Neto's freshman season at Campbell was limited by the coronavirus pandemic, but he broke out as a sophomore, batting .405 with a 1.234 OPS while logging a 3.43 ERA in 21 innings as a reliever. He carried that performance into the Cape Cod League, where he hit .304. He continued hitting his junior year, batting .407/.514/.769 to win his second consecutive Big South Conference player of the year award. The Angels made Neto the first first-rounder in Campbell history when they took him 13th overall in 2022 and signed him for an under-slot $3.5 million. Neto was aggressively assigned to High-A after signing and quickly hit his way to Double-A, where he batted .320/.382/.492 in 30 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Neto has an unorthodox setup at the plate, beginning with a massive inward leg kick and his hands moving toward his lower half, but he makes it work. Neto is regularly on time and makes consistent contact from the right side with an uphill swing that allows him to drive the ball in the air with authority. Neto is an aggressive hitter focused on making contact, but he will draw the occasional walk and limits his strikeouts. A potentially plus hitter, Neto has just average raw power and modest exit velocities, but his ability to backspin the ball and solid bat speed give him a chance to approach 20 home runs at maturity. Neto is a good athlete with a plus, accurate arm in the infield. He has good footwork, hands, and instincts at shortstop, but he'll have to improve his focus and learn when to hold onto the ball rather than force ill-advised throws. He is an above-average runner who is aggressive on the basepaths.
  
  The Future: Neto has a chance to be the Angels' long-term solution at shortstop and has the bat to be an above-average regular even if he moves positions. He could reach Anaheim as soon as 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 50. Speed: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #16 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Campbell Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
  Age At Draft: 21.5
  BA Grade: 55/High
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60
  Neto was the 2021 Big South Conference Player of the Year after he hit .405/.488/.746 with 12 home runs and posted a 3.43 ERA as a reliever who logged 21 innings. Neto followed up that two-way campaign in the Cape Cod League, where he played shortstop, second base and third base and slashed .304/.439/.587 with as many walks (eight) as strikeouts (eight). Neto has a noisy operation at the plate, with plenty of pre-pitch bat-waggle and hand movement during his load, as well as a big leg kick. Despite all those moving parts, Neto has made the swing work and has produced plenty of contact with Campbell, with more walks (53) than strikeouts (49) throughout his career. Listed at 6-foot, 185 pounds, Neto shows only average raw power in batting practice, but he backspins the ball consistently and has solid bat speed and barrel manipulation—enough so that scouts think he’ll get to every ounce of the raw power that he does have, with potentially above-average game power depending on the major league environment. There are some questions about whether his setup will need to be simplified at the next level against better competition, but so far Neto has shown an ability to be on time. Neto has played all over the infield for Campbell but was the team’s everyday shortstop in 2022. He has solid hands and defensive actions, with easy plus arm strength that allows him to make challenging throws in the hole. As a pitcher, Neto has been up to 93 mph on the mound and that arm strength should give him a chance to stick on the left side of the infield. He’s an above-average runner with solid athleticism and has been an aggressive and successful baserunner with Campbell, going 28-for-33 (85%) in stolen base attempts for his career. For teams who think he’s a shortstop and any team heavily reliant on a model, Neto will stand out nicely in the 2022 draft class. He fits somewhere in the middle or back of the first round and should become Campbell’s first-ever first-round pick.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #53 prospect in 2023

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
  
  Track Record: Neto's freshman season at Campbell was limited by the coronavirus pandemic, but he broke out as a sophomore, batting .405 with a 1.234 OPS while logging a 3.43 ERA in 21 innings as a reliever. He carried that performance into the Cape Cod League, where he hit .304. He continued hitting his junior year, batting .407/.514/.769 to win his second consecutive Big South Conference player of the year award. The Angels made Neto the first first-rounder in Campbell history when they took him 13th overall in 2022 and signed him for an under-slot $3.5 million. Neto was aggressively assigned to High-A after signing and quickly hit his way to Double-A, where he batted .320/.382/.492 in 30 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Neto has an unorthodox setup at the plate, beginning with a massive inward leg kick and his hands moving toward his lower half, but he makes it work. Neto is regularly on time and makes consistent contact from the right side with an uphill swing that allows him to drive the ball in the air with authority. Neto is an aggressive hitter focused on making contact, but he will draw the occasional walk and limits his strikeouts. A potentially plus hitter, Neto has just average raw power and modest exit velocities, but his ability to backspin the ball and solid bat speed give him a chance to approach 20 home runs at maturity. Neto is a good athlete with a plus, accurate arm in the infield. He has good footwork, hands, and instincts at shortstop, but he'll have to improve his focus and learn when to hold onto the ball rather than force ill-advised throws. He is an above-average runner who is aggressive on the basepaths.
  
  The Future: Neto has a chance to be the Angels' long-term solution at shortstop and has the bat to be an above-average regular even if he moves positions. He could reach Anaheim as soon as 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 50. Speed: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
  
  Track Record: Neto's freshman season at Campbell was limited by the coronavirus pandemic, but he broke out as a sophomore, batting .405 with a 1.234 OPS while logging a 3.43 ERA in 21 innings as a reliever. He carried that performance into the Cape Cod League, where he hit .304. He continued hitting his junior year, batting .407/.514/.769 to win his second consecutive Big South Conference player of the year award. The Angels made Neto the first first-rounder in Campbell history when they took him 13th overall in 2022 and signed him for an under-slot $3.5 million. Neto was aggressively assigned to High-A after signing and quickly hit his way to Double-A, where he batted .320/.382/.492 in 30 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Neto has an unorthodox setup at the plate, beginning with a massive inward leg kick and his hands moving toward his lower half, but he makes it work. Neto is regularly on time and makes consistent contact from the right side with an uphill swing that allows him to drive the ball in the air with authority. Neto is an aggressive hitter focused on making contact, but he will draw the occasional walk and limits his strikeouts. A potentially plus hitter, Neto has just average raw power and modest exit velocities, but his ability to backspin the ball and solid bat speed give him a chance to approach 20 home runs at maturity. Neto is a good athlete with a plus, accurate arm in the infield. He has good footwork, hands, and instincts at shortstop, but he'll have to improve his focus and learn when to hold onto the ball rather than force ill-advised throws. He is an above-average runner who is aggressive on the basepaths.
  
  The Future: Neto has a chance to be the Angels' long-term solution at shortstop and has the bat to be an above-average regular even if he moves positions. He could reach Anaheim as soon as 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 50. Speed: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 55/High
  
  August Update: Neto was the 2021 Big South Conference Player of the Year after he hit .405/.488/.746 with 12 home runs and posted a 3.43 ERA as a reliever who logged 21 innings. Neto followed up that two-way campaign in the Cape Cod League, where he played shortstop, second base and third base and slashed .304/.439/.587 with as many walks (eight) as strikeouts (eight). Neto has a noisy operation at the plate, with plenty of pre-pitch bat-waggle and hand movement during his load, as well as a big leg kick. Despite all those moving parts, Neto has made the swing work and has produced plenty of contact with Campbell, with more walks (53) than strikeouts (49) throughout his career. Listed at 6-foot, 185 pounds, Neto shows only average raw power in batting practice, but he backspins the ball consistently and has solid bat speed and barrel manipulation—enough so that scouts think he&#39ll get to every ounce of the raw power that he does have, with potentially above-average game power depending on the major league environment. There are some questions about whether his setup will need to be simplified at the next level against better competition, but so far Neto has shown an ability to be on time. Neto has played all over the infield for Campbell but was the team&#39s everyday shortstop in 2022. He has solid hands and defensive actions, with easy plus arm strength that allows him to make challenging throws in the hole. As a pitcher, Neto has been up to 93 mph on the mound and that arm strength should give him a chance to stick on the left side of the infield. He&#39s an above-average runner with solid athleticism and has been an aggressive and successful baserunner with Campbell, going 28-for-33 (85%) in stolen base attempts for his career.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 55. Run: 55. Field: 50. Arm: 60.