The Los Angeles Angels have optioned struggling infielder David Fletcher to Triple-A Salt Lake and selected the contract of infielder Zach Neto from Double-A.
Neto was the Angels' first-round pick in the 2022 draft. The 22-year-old is off to a scintillating start in the early portion of the season, hitting .444 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in just seven games at Double-A. He's the Angels' second-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
"I'm excited to be here," Neto said, according to The Athletic's Sam Blum. "I feel like I just took a 5-hour Energy shot. I'm ready. I'm ready to go."
Neto will become the first player from the 2022 draft to make his MLB debut and is expected to take over as the Angels' everyday shortstop, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Fletcher had just two hits in 16 at-bats to start the season and struggled to replicate the form he showed during a breakout 2020 campaign when he hit .319 and received down-ballot AL MVP votes. He was rewarded with a five-year, $26-million contract extension before the 2021 season. The 28-year-old hit .260 and mustered only a 71 wRC+ across 218 games over the last two seasons.
