Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto has been one of the best rookies in baseball this season, hitting .254 on the year at just 22 years of age. He flashed his supreme talent in Monday’s game against the Texas Rangers with an unbelievable leaping catch.
The play happened in the bottom of the sixth inning with Rangers designated hitter Mitch Garver at the plate.
Garver hit a ball into foul territory down the third base line. It looked like nobody would get to it and it would ultimately go harmlessly into the camera well. Instead, Neto put his body on the line, jumping into the fence to make a ridiculous leaping catch.
Angels play-by-play broadcaster Matt Vasgersian summed it up perfectly with his fitting reaction to the catch.
“This dude is something, he is special.”
Many around the MLB world also took notice of the play, singing Neto’s praises on social media.
It’s hard enough for a veteran to make this kind of play. For a rookie to be doing so clearly shows that he has gold glove potential for years to come for the Angels.
Neto did it with the bat as well in this game, going 2-4 with two doubles, which continues his very impressive recent run at the plate.
The Angels notably have concerns about star outfielder and pitcher Shohei Ohtani potentially signing elsewhere this upcoming offseason if the two sides do not come to a deal. However, the impressive play of Neto indicates that at the very least he will be a building block of their team for years to come.
[The Comeback on Twitter] Photo Credit: MLB Network
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.