Zach Neto credits mentality change for resurgence

This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger’s Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ANAHEIM — After starting the season in an offensive slump, shortstop Zach Neto found himself pressing and trying too hard to get things on track.

So he took to heart what he heard about elite sprinters, who try to run at 85 percent instead of 100 percent to get themselves loose and not tense up. Neto has applied that approach at the plate and it’s paid dividends over the last week, as he’s starting to heat up. The 23-year-old is batting .364 (8-for-22) with a homer, four doubles and four RBIs over his last six games, and he credits a change in mentality rather than mechanics for his resurgence.

“I’ve just been playing at 85 percent,” Neto said. “I got a message that track stars don’t run at 100 percent. They tend to tense up. When they run at 85 percent, they’re nice and loose and their mind is working. And they’re the fastest they can be. So that’s what I’m trying to be. Just loosen up and let my instincts and talent play.”

Neto also jokingly said mixing up his walk-up music has made him feel freer at the plate, as he was listening to salsa music in his car on Monday and decided to make a change. He now walks up to “Danza Kuduro” by Puerto Rican artist Don Omar.

“I wanted some music where, when I get to the plate, I have that dancing mentality,” Neto said. “It’s helped me out and kept me loose.”

Neto has an unorthodox high leg kick during his swing as well, which he tones down with two strikes. But he said he’s not looking to ditch it altogether, especially after watching some old video of him crushing baseballs while at Campbell University just two years ago. He said it was a reminder that his swing can work.

“It was just about getting my confidence back,” Neto said. “It was just a matter of getting back to who I was in Spring Training, or even back to college. Just back to that swagger and what got me here. We went back and watched some videos and I was joking around like, ‘Where the heck is this guy at?’ But it gave me a lot of confidence.”

Neto also had the chance to finally meet one of his idols on Friday night, as former Rockies and Blue Jays star Troy Tulowitzki was at the game. Tulowitzki, who went to college locally at Long Beach State, has served as a mentor to Neto and even texted him to congratulate him when he was drafted. Neto still doesn’t know how Tulowitzki got his number but said he doesn’t take it for granted.

“When I was drafted a couple years ago, he was one of the first to text me and congratulate me and we had never even had a conversation,” Neto said. “So we’ve stayed in contact, whether it’s my game or about his son. His son has a pretty big leg kick like me and sends me videos. So being able to finally meet him, it was a dream come true.”

Neto’s improvement at the plate also saw him move from hitting ninth to batting second on Saturday and Sunday against the Twins. Manager Ron Washington said he asked Neto in Spring Training where he likes to hit, and Neto said either first or ninth because he likes to hit leadoff or second leadoff.

But with the Angels searching for someone to protect newly appointed leadoff hitter Mike Trout after Anthony Rendon was placed on the injured list with a left hamstring tear, Neto will get a chance near the top of the lineup.

“I moved him up because of the way he’s been swinging the bat,” Washington said. “The hope is that moving him up in the order can help spark our offense.”

Washington added he’s been impressed by Neto’s defense and the way he’s been able to separate it from his offense even when he was struggling. Neto ranks second in the Majors in Defensive Runs Saved among shortstops, behind only Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr.

“That’s what’s so great about this game,” Neto said. “You can go out there and strike out, but you have to go out there and play defense. Being able to separate your at-bats and not bringing them out to the field, that’s the biggest thing. I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job of maturing myself. If I can’t help my team in the box, I might as well help them in the field.”