Angels’ Zach Neto scheduled for full games at shortstop in Triple-A
HOUSTON — Zach Neto is scheduled for a significant test in his rehab this week.
Ron Washington said that Neto is expected to play nine innings at shortstop Tuesday and Wednesday at Triple-A. That would be a significant final barrier before he can be activated.
“He’s still trying to get out of spring-training shape and into game mode,” Washington said Saturday. “We’re the ones holding on to Neto, because if it was for Neto, he’ll be playing nine every night. And I don’t think he’s worried about the grind. We are more worried about the grind than he is. So he’s moving along, and when his time comes, he’ll be here.”
Neto, who had shoulder surgery in November, has been playing for Triple-A Salt Lake since April 1, so he’s more than halfway through the 20-day limit for a rehab assignment.
Given the schedule that Washington described, the soonest Neto could be with the Angels is Thursday, the final game of a series against the Rangers.
His rehab assignment expires next Sunday. The Angels are off the following Monday, so Neto would be back April 22 – the first game of a three-game home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates – if they use the entire rehab assignment.
Hitting is not an issue. Neto is hitting .306 with a three homers in 10 games at Triple-A. He’s been the designated hitter five times, including Saturday.
The defense is more of the test. He’s played five games at shortstop, maxing out at seven innings in one game. The first time he played back-to-back games in the field was Thursday and Friday, and he played six innings each time.
He is expected to play shortstop again Sunday, and then Salt Lake has an off day Monday.
GOOD SIGN FOR TROUT
Mike Trout’s homer Friday night was his second of the season on a high fastball. He pulled a 92-mph fastball from Ronel Blanco, after going the other way on an elevated 98 mph fastball from Cleveland’s Gavin Williams on April 4.
Since the start of the 2023 season, Trout has a .138 average on fastballs of at least 92 mph in the upper third of the strike zone or higher. He has hit only four homers, including the two so far this season.
Trout has also cut his strikeout rate this season. He’s struck out in just 15% of his plate appearances, which would be the lowest percentage of his career. He struck out in 21% in 126 plate appearances last season, and in 29% of his 362 plate appearances in 2023.
Trout has said he’s been working to change the position of his hands since realizing that he was wrapping them behind his head too much. That was causing him to chase too many pitches and swing and miss too much.
Trout is still hitting just .208, even though he’s tied for the major-league lead with six homers.
“I think once he starts accumulating at-bats, he’ll start swinging at some pitches that he can get base hits on and not always hit them out of the ballpark,” Washington said. “Right now it’s working. He’s just not missing the pitches win the zone that he can hit out of the ballpark. And that’s what good hitters do.”
Another good sign for Trout in Houston is that the Astros changed the batters’ eye at what is now Daikin Park. It’s now darker colored. Trout had been vocal about having trouble seeing the ball in Houston. Even Astros players had issues with the backdrop previously.
“It’s better now,” Trout said.
NOTES
Right-hander Sam Bachman, who is on the injured list because of thoracic outlet syndrome, has been throwing bullpen sessions in Arizona. …
Right-hander Robert Stephenson, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, has been doing “up-down” bullpen sessions, in which he takes breaks to simulate throwing multiple innings. He hasn’t faced hitters yet. Stephenson is eligible to be activated May 24, and a pitcher’s maximum rehab assignment length is 30 days, so he still has a couple weeks before there’s even a reason to have him pitch in the minors.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP Kyle Hendricks, 0-0, 1.64) at Astros (RHP Hayden Wesneski, 0-1, 3.75), 11:10 a.m. PT Sunday, FanDuel Sports Network West, 830 AM