Neto’s Shoulder Cleared, Angels Breathe Sigh of Relief

After a scary slide, Zach Neto, the Los Angeles Angels’ shortstop, dodged a bullet. An MRI showed no damage to his surgically repaired shoulder, offering a huge relief to the team and fans alike. The dynamic player is now listed as day-to-day.

Positive Diagnosis

Following an injury sustained during a head-first slide into second base on Tuesday, Neto received encouraging news. The MRI results confirmed that no structural damage was present in his right shoulder, which had previously undergone surgery. This news is especially important considering the history of the injury.

“It’s a sigh of relief finding out nothing was structurally messed up,”

—Zach Neto

The Angels’ leadoff hitter is batting .278, boasting an .814 OPS, with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs. Currently, the team is leading the league with 46 runs, despite missing the initial 18 games of the season. According to a 2024 study, head-first slides account for almost 3% of all MLB injuries (MLB Injury Report).

Looking Ahead

The Angels, who have a break coming up, may give Neto extra time off. This could mean sitting out the weekend series against the Washington Nationals. With the All-Star break approaching, the team wants to ensure Neto is fully recovered and ready for the stretch run.

Neto also reflected on his sliding technique: “I’m going to have to be more mindful of it now… it’s something I’m going to have to start learning how to do, maybe sliding feet first.” He added, “I feel like the couple times I have gone in feet first, I’ve been thrown out by like 15 feet, which is why I don’t do it very often.”