ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels activated shortstop Zach Neto off the injured list before Friday night's series opener against the San Francisco Giants.
The 24-year-old Neto injured his right shoulder injury when his arm got caught underneath his chest on a head-first slide into second base against the Chicago White Sox last Sept. 26. He missed the final three games of the season and had surgery in November.
Neto went 1 for 3 with an RBI double as the Angels beat the Giants 2-0.
A first-round pick out of Campbell University in North Carolina in 2022, Neto hit .249 with a .761 OPS, 23 home runs, 34 doubles, 77 RBIs, 70 runs and 30 stolen bases in 155 games last season.
The return of Neto's bat should be a considerable upgrade over Tim Anderson and Kevin Newman, who played solid defense but provided little offense for the Angels. Anderson hit .171 with a .422 OPS, one double and three RBIs in his first 15 games. Newman hit .136 with a .273 OPS and no RBIs in nine games.
“He brings energy. He brings gamesmanship. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. We’ve missed him, and now he’s back,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “We’re not expecting Neto to carry this team, but he’s got baseball skills, and his skillset plays. His skillset can do a lot for our team.”
Since scoring 11 runs at Tampa Bay on April 10, the Angels have scored 14 runs, an average of 2.3 runs per game and have lost five of their last six at Houston and Texas.
Neto missed all of spring training and began a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Salt Lake on April 1. He made eight starts at shortstop, playing 56 innings in the field, and five at designated hitter, batting .286 (14 for 49) with a .988 OPS, four homers, three doubles and eight RBIs in the 13 games.
“This is probably the closest thing to my (big league) debut, getting that call,” Neto said of being activated. “Just coming here, kind of where it all started … I’m excited to be back and get to work and be with the guys again.
“Every day that I wasn’t with the team, it was pretty shocking to me. I wanted to be there with the guys, but I knew I needed to take care of myself, I needed to get right before I came back to play.”
To make room on the roster for Neto, utility man Nicky Lopez was designated for assignment.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
FILE - Los Angeles Angels' Zach Neto runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sept. 22, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox, File)
FILE - Los Angeles Angels' Zach Neto holds his shoulder as he heads to the dugout after being caught trying to steal second during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Sept. 26, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and seven assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the short-handed Golden State Warriors for a 131-94 win Friday night.
Stephen Curry sat out because of a left ankle sprain and backcourt mate Jimmy Butler became ill earlier in the day. Draymond Green rested, while Jonathan Kuminga missed the game with back soreness.
That left Steve Kerr's starting lineup as Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Will Richard, Gui Santos and Quinten Post.
Kerr was optimistic Curry would play Saturday against the Jazz.
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 10 for 20 with three 3-pointers and converted all seven of his free throws for his seventh game in the last nine with 30 or more points — and now three straight. He had 38 points on 13-for-21 shooting with five 3-pointers in the last matchup against the Warriors.
Chet Holmgren contributed 15 points and a season-best 15 rebounds — two off his career high — as Oklahoma City (30-5) won a fourth straight following its first two-game skid of the season.
Richard had 13 points and five rebounds, Al Horford and Moody also scored 13 while Pat Spencer dished out 11 assists against the defending champion Thunder, who had lost their previous two road games but also won 124-112 at Golden State exactly a month earlier on Dec. 2.
Richard's 3-pointer with 7:19 left in the second quarter got Golden State within 38-36 before Oklahoma City answered with a 19-0 run to go ahead 64-45 at halftime.
The Warriors had won two straight, five of six and three in a row at home, where they are in a stretch with 10 of 11 at Chase Center.
Thunder: Visit Phoenix on Sunday.
Warriors: Host Utah on Saturday night to complete a back-to-back.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos (15) is fouled by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) shoots a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) shoots while defended by Golden State Warriors center Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
