Zach Neto
SS 6-foot 195 Campbell
2021 Campbell stat line - 44-G, 173-AB, .405/.488/.746/12-HR, 58-RBI, only 30-K
Hit Power Arm Field Run FV
30/55 40/55 60/60 55/55 60/60 5
3-15-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/3/15/mlb-draft-gassed-up-week-4 -
ZACH NETO, SS, CAMPBELL
Neto took a while to wake up and show off his power in games this Spring, but emerged from hibernation to blast two mammoth shots against the velocity rich Liberty Flames this weekend. Before blasting a 94 MPH baseball over the batter’s eye, the reigning Big South player of the year was mostly showing off his above average tools around the infield that give evaluators confidence that he’ll be a positive asset at shortstop in pro ball. Long a high contact batter with an ability to drive balls in any part of the zone, Neto has overcome concerns about the noise coming from a high leg kick and active hands pre-swing to project as an above average hitter going forward. Boosted by a big (if injury shortened) summer on the Cape, it’s hard to envision the Fighting Camels’ star shortstop making it past the supplemental round of this year’s draft.
3-13-22 - Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB
Campbell SS Zach Neto is *really* making up for lost time this weekend. Three homers in two games this weekend. Average up to .400.
Steals bases, walks, slugs... the kid even pitches for his school.
He'll be a high pick in July.
3-11-22 - PG College Baseball @PGCollegeBall
Zach Neto (FL) it’s the first of the year for the pre-season All-American but there was no doubt…breaks the scoreless battle to put the Camels up 1-0
3-5-22 - CodBall @codball
Super excited to see @GoCamelsBSB two-way star Zach Neto return to @WhitecapsCCBL this summer. Among many awards in 2021 (see bio), Neto earned Big South Player of the Year and First-team All-Big South honors. Played 16 games for Brewster and batted .304 with 10 RBI, 1.026 OPS.
3-9-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022-mlb-draft-top-400-prospects -
31
Zach Neto
SS Campbell Miami, FL
Neto really exudes confidence and athleticism at the plate. He's an aggressive hitter who extends really well and has a knack for catching the ball out in front, tapping into a lot of his raw power. He's a good hitter with a track record of success at school and on the cape as well. It's a rhythmic swing that relies on timing, though Neto has shown real feel for putting his body in a position to damage the baseball. Some of the quirks in his setup and swing have been compared to Javier Baez. Really good feel for tempo on the dirt with soft hands and body control. Arm might only be average, but Neto can make throws from any angle. Whether he ends up at second base, shortstop or anywhere else on the diamond, Neto has a pretty complete profile that will appeal to teams.
2-28-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/2/28/live-looks-reports-week-2-part-1 -
SS ZACH NETO, CAMPBELL
The Big South Player of the Year last spring, Neto returned to Campbell with a lot of scouting contingencies keeping tabs on him after a nice summer on the Cape.
Admittedly, Neto did not get much to hit this weekend. Neto walked six times while not striking out at all. The lone hit that he had in the series was a bunt single, reaching first in 3.72 seconds before being picked off in the next at-bat. The other outs he produced were loud, with multiple balls traveling near or at the warning track, mainly to right field. He did swing through a couple of fastballs that were up in the zone, so that’s something to watch as the year goes on.
In the field, Neto showed off his athleticism and looked relatively smooth at shortstop. He’s got good range and a good, accurate arm, though there was one occasion where he missed his target and led to an infield single. One impressive play saw Neto end up in medium-depth left field to snag a fly ball from Allenye. Neto will likely find himself selected high come July, assuming that’s when the draft will be held.
-Tyler Jennings
38. Zach Neto, SS, Campbell
Campbell has had only one player selected in the first two rounds since 1990, with that being pitcher Seth Johnson in 2019. Neto could become the second. He hit .405/.488/.746 last season with 12 home runs and 12 stolen bases. His performance out of conference wasn't encouraging, but analysts have pointed to the damage he did against Friday night starters and his productive 16-game stint in the Cape Cod League as reasons to buy in. Neto, whose swing is somewhat reminiscent of Tim Beckham's, doesn't walk often; he does lift the ball, however, and he makes ample contact within the zone. A team who believes in either Neto's bat or his ability to stick at shortstop (rather than foreseeing a move to second) could pop him within the top 50 picks.
2-10-22 - https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-mlb-mock-draft-version-10/?s=03 -
31. Giants — Zach Neto, SS, Campbell
Scout’s take: He had one of the best summers on the Cape. Neto has barreled up balls consistently. He plays with a lot of energy and should stay at shortstop with an average arm and as an above-average defender. He has a chance to be an above-average hitter with average power. There has been chatter about Neto playing in a mid-major conference, but I don't see him slipping out of the first round if he hits .400 again, after he just hit over .300 on the Cape.
Carlos’ take: I came into this mock feeling a bit ‘meh’ about the college shortstop class, but here we are through 31 picks and we have selected four of them. That would be a better number than each of the last two classes (two each) and just shy of the 2019 class that produced five. Neto’s numbers are insane. We don’t have him ranked too far outside of the first round range at the moment—he’s at No. 37—but you could be right that he’s being underrated given the conference he plays in.
1-27-22 - Big South Conference @BigSouthSports
He was the conference's leader with a .405 average with 12 homers and 58 RBI!
Zach Neto is the 2022 Preseason Big South Player of the Year!
1-5-21 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022-mlb-mock-draft -
Prospect Live Mock Draft 1.0
27. Milwaukee Brewers
Zach Neto, Shortstop, Campbell
The Brewers are a tough team to crack. In 2020, Tod Johnson and Co.™ went with all position players. 2021 was much of the same with three of their first four picks being position players. There’s still work to do, but the Brewers’ farm is in good shape these days. While Brice Turang is a good prospect, he’s probably not enough to warrant avoiding a solid shortstop prospect in the draft and Neto fits that bill. A good hitter with solid power, Neto is carried by mature at-bats and impactful bat-to-ball skills. He’s got an average arm, but his athleticism and bounce on the dirt help him project to stay at the position for the long-haul. Picking at 27, the Brewers are squarely in a position to see what type of talent tumbles and falls into their lap.
12-30-21 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2021/12/29/2022-mlb-draft-top-300-prospects -
15. Zach Neto Shortstop, Campbell
Neto really exudes confidence and athleticism at the plate. He's an aggressive hitter who extends really well and has a knack for catching the ball out in front, tapping into a lot of his raw power. He's a good hitter with a track record of success at school and on the cape as well. It’s a rhythmic swing that relies on timing, though Neto has shown real feel for putting his body in a position to damage the baseball. Some of the quirks in his setup and swing have been compared to Javier Baez. Really good feel for tempo on the dirt with soft hands and body control. Arm might only be average, but Neto can make throws from any angle. Whether he ends up at second base, shortstop or anywhere else on the diamond, Neto has a pretty complete profile that will appeal to teams.
12-17-21 - si.com -
25. New York Yankees | Zach Neto, SS, Campbell
Neto is a very high-performing college middle infielder, who raked throughout last spring and then continued his torrid pace on the Cape, establishing himself as one of the better pure hitters in the college class. He can drive the ball gap-to-gap and has good pull-side juice as well, in addition to the fact that he can play shortstop at an above-average level. This is a safer pick as far as risk vs. reward goes, but Neto has the makings of an everyday Big Leaguer who impacts the game on several levels. -BS
12-6-21 - Prospects Live - Top Shortstops -
ZACH NETO, CAMBPELL
Plenty of Neto’s draft stock comes by way of his offensive game. He really exudes confidence and athleticism at the plate. He's an aggressive hitter who gets into full extension with the barrel consistently and has a knack for catching the ball out in front, tapping into a lot of his raw power. Neto is a good hitter with a track record of success at school and on the Cape as well. It’s an unorthodox, rhythmic swing that relies on timing, though Neto has shown real feel for putting his body in a position to damage the baseball. Some of the quirks in his setup and swing have been compared to Javier Baez. Neto finds a ton of barrels, hardly ever strikes out, and produces strong exit velocities for his position. In fact, Neto ranked third in the entire country last year for qualified hitters in xwOBA, a gaudy .497. Like Lee, there’s a little bit of a willingness to chase outside the zone here, but with such an impressive track record with the bat, it's hard to ignore the production.
11-30-21 - bpj -
After playing in three games in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Zach Neto was an everyday player as a sophomore last year. He hit .405 with 17 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs and 58 RBIs in 173 at-bats in 44 games last season. He stole 12 bases and showed good plate discipline, drawing 17 walks while striking out 30 times.
In the Cape Cod League, Neto batted .304 with four doubles, three home runs and 10 RBIs in 46 at-bats in 16 games.
Neto is a 6-foot, 195-pound right-handed-hitting shortstop with a short, compact swing that allows him to barrel up pitches and hit for average and power. He uses a leg kick as a timing mechanism and shows plenty of feel at the plate. He is a confident and disciplined hitter who doesn’t strike out a ton.
I’m liking what I’m reading. If the Mets want to do an underslot #14, this would be an interesting player. Now, if they got him in Round 2, well, that’s a heist!
ReplyDeleteNeto is a field hound. Lives there
ReplyDeleteFamily very dedicated to his future.