The Angels have thrown out the prospect playbook. Typically even the highest of top draft picks measure their minor-league time in years. Prove you can dominate in Class A. Then a year in Double A. Can you hit some major-league-caliber pitching in Triple A?
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Angels general manager Perry Minasian, it’s that he doesn’t think in those timeframes. Maybe because he doesn’t like to as a matter of philosophy. Maybe because he can’t afford to as a matter of job security.
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Regardless of the reason, Minasian’s first-round draft pick, Zach Neto, arrived at Fenway Park just three hours before the first pitch on Saturday afternoon. It’s just nine months after he was selected out of Campbell University.
The Angels called up their top prospect and sent down a fan-favorite in David Fletcher, whose role and production have eroded since Minasian signed him to a five-year, $26 million extension in 2021.
“Basically, he’s forced our hand,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said of Neto. “We saw a lot of great things in spring training. … And what he’s continued to do his first couple weeks in Double A, we just felt it was the right time.”
There have been two consistent philosophies under Minasian’s tenure. The first: If you’re ready to play, you’ll play, regardless of experience or age. The second: If you’re not good enough to play, you won’t, regardless of contract.
There are plenty of examples over the past two years. The most memorable instances of the former? Making 2021 11th-round pick Chase Silseth the first player from that draft class to make his MLB debut. Calling up Logan O’Hoppe directly from Double A. There are minor leaguers in elevated positions throughout the system. The Angels have a 17-year-old playing every day at Class-A Inland Empire.
Zach Neto: "I'm excited to be here. I feel like I just took a 5-hour energy shot. I'm ready. I'm ready to go."
He thought he'd maybe get called up later this year. So it was a surprise. His family even thought he was messing with them.
See AlsoZach Neto Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & NewsSurprise! Angels call up No. 2 prospect Neto for MLB debutWhy this 2022 Draft pick is hitting ahead of Trout and OhtaniAngels’ Zach Neto has adjusted the way he uses his leg kick during hot streak(H/T @jcmccaffrey).
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) April 15, 2023
Look no further than Albert Pujols and Justin Upton for examples of the latter. The Angels paid a combined $58 million for them to leave. Fletcher, 28, is the latest example. He’s making $6 million to start for the Salt Lake Bees now. It’s a harsh reality, but Minasian clearly doesn’t care about those optics. Nor should he.
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Minasian wasn’t in Boston to discuss the roster moves, but Nevin explained the team’s thinking.
“Playing once a week, or whatever he was getting here, is not suitable for his game to get to where he needs to be and where he was as a player,” Nevin said of Fletcher. “It’s hard. It’s a hard conversation. We consider him still a part of this group.”
There’s no way that it’s a coincidence that this move was made a day after the Angels’ infield defense combusted in a way that cost them a win. The timeline of when Neto was notified fits the timeline of that theory — getting pulled mid-game during Rocket City’s matchup in Birmingham. It came around the time the Angels game went final on the East Coast.
The Angels do not have a prototypical shortstop. Fletcher was the closest fit to one, but his offense has dropped so dramatically. He’s 2-for-16 this year and hasn’t hit the ball hard. He does not hit for power and rarely walks. He’s listed in the bottom 25th percentile for sprint speed. Nevin said Fletcher has been a great Angel, and he has. But the lack of opportunities to play made the situation untenable.
Fletcher is still optionable. And the Angels wanted to see what they had in Neto — a shortstop who just years ago fielded just one Division I scholarship offer. The Angels wanted an everyday shortstop who can hit and play defense.
“I’m excited to be here,” Neto said about 20 minutes after arriving in Boston. “I feel like I just took a 5-hour Energy shot. I’m ready. I’m ready to go.”
He said he expected to be called up this year. But he thought maybe in September. Probably after the All-Star break. Not in April. Even his family thought he was messing with them when he called.
Neto had an excellent spring training, posting an .828 OPS in 16 games. Then he was assigned to Double A, where he has a 1.347 OPS to start the season. He was great in Double A last year, as well. His defense is above average.
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The Angels could have selected shortstop Liván Soto, who was already on the 40-man roster and played well for the Angels in September. They could have brought up Andrew Velazquez, also on the 40-man. Both, however, are hitting below .200 in Triple A.
Calling up Neto is a risk, there’s no doubt. Once you ring that bell, it cannot be un-rung. But these are desperate times for an Angels team with a front office and coaching staff that needs to win this year. They need to take a shot and are doing that now.
Nevin has changed up the shortstops throughout the season. That was always the plan. The new plan, though, is for Neto to play there every day.
“I don’t have any problem rotating guys at any position,” Nevin said. “What’s the difference between rotating a first baseman or a right fielder, as opposed to a shortstop? But certainly the defensive side, we’re happy with. He’s flashy out there.”
The Angels and Minasian should not be let off the hook for bad contracts that haven’t worked out. Fletcher is an example of that. Anthony Rendon — not signed by Minasian, is another. The Angels thought they could build an infield without any shortstops and that it would work. Through 13 games, it hasn’t. And it looks even worse when they aren’t hitting well, either.
It makes moves like this one necessary. It’s the right move given the circ*mstances. And a move that will excite the fans and show your top priority is winning. But these are also circ*mstances created by the Angels.
Neto’s locker name tag was a bit rag-tag. It did not look like the other 25 players in the clubhouse. It matched the hastiness with which he was called up. Unplanned. But official and real nonetheless.
Neto got a couple of hours of sleep. Woke up when it was still dark. And made his way to one of baseball’s most hallowed cathedrals.
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It’s not a completely uncommon call-up story. But not exactly how you’d expect a top prospect’s major-league journey to begin.
It fits, however, the moment for the Angels. Mixing and matching and making potentially franchise-altering decisions on the fly. It’s madness, but there at least appears to be a method behind it.
“He’s going to make us better,” Nevin said. “That’s why we’re doing it.”
— The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey contributed to this report.
(Photo of Zach Neto from March 28: Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)
Sam Blum is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Los Angeles Angels and Major League Baseball. Before joining The Athletic, he was a sports reporter for the Dallas Morning News. Previously, he covered Auburn for AL.com and the University of Virginia for The Daily Progress in Charlottesville.
