Angels' Zach Neto Ends Slump by Being Kind to Himself

Sometimes the hardest opponent to defeat isn't on the other team. It's the voice inside your own head.

Angels shortstop Zach Neto went through a brutal stretch in late April and early May, failing to get a hit in 23 straight at-bats. But when reporters asked what finally turned things around, his answer was refreshingly simple: "Not beating myself up."

The 25-year-old admitted he'd been his own worst critic during the slump. Every strikeout became ammunition for negative self-talk, and the pressure mounted with each failure at the plate.

Then something clicked. Neto decided to treat himself with the same kindness he'd show a struggling teammate.

Since making that mental shift on May 5, he's been on fire. Over his last 13 games, he's batting .271 with three home runs, including a walk-off two-run homer that completed an improbable comeback against the Athletics.

Manager Kurt Suzuki noticed the change immediately, and not just in the box score. The usually peppy shortstop had grown uncharacteristically quiet during his slump, but now his energy is infectious again.

"The confidence is back," Suzuki said. "It's the little things like pumping up our catcher Logan, saying 'Hey, be a wall back there. We got this.' Those are the things nobody can see, but when you're in it, you feel it."

Neto credits his teammates for being "open ears" when he needed to vent. That support system helped him realize he didn't have to carry the weight of every mistake alone.

Why This Inspires

In a sport obsessed with stats and performance, Neto's story reminds us that mental health matters just as much as physical skill. His willingness to be vulnerable about struggling with self-criticism gives other athletes permission to do the same.

The shortstop had led the Angels in Wins Above Replacement for two straight seasons and entered 2025 primed for a breakout year. When the slump hit, the gap between expectations and reality became torture.

But by practicing self-compassion, Neto didn't just improve his batting average. He became a better teammate, bringing back the swagger and energy that makes him the "spark plug" of the clubhouse.

"I'm still that confident person that I am every single day," Neto said. "I wanted to get back to that and joke around with everybody."

His teammates are grateful to have their energizer back, especially as the Angels work through a tough stretch. After Neto's walk-off homer broke a seven-game stretch of scoring two runs or fewer, everyone felt the shift.

Sometimes the bravest thing an athlete can do is treat themselves with kindness instead of criticism.

#