Zach Neto

Neto was the 2021 Big South Conference Player of the Year after he hit .405/.488/.746 with 12 home runs and posted a 3.43 ERA as a reliever who logged 21 innings. Neto followed up that two-way campaign in the Cape Cod League, where he played shortstop, second base and third base and slashed .304/.439/.587 with as many walks (eight) as strikeouts (eight). Neto has a noisy operation at the plate, with plenty of pre-pitch bat-waggle and hand movement during his load, as well as a big leg kick. Despite all those moving parts, Neto has made the swing work and has produced plenty of contact with Campbell, with more walks (53) than strikeouts (49) throughout his career. Listed at 6-foot, 185 pounds, Neto shows only average raw power in batting practice, but he backspins the ball consistently and has solid bat speed and barrel manipulation—enough so that scouts think he’ll get to every ounce of the raw power that he does have, with potentially above-average game power depending on the major league environment. There are some questions about whether his setup will need to be simplified at the next level against better competition, but so far Neto has shown an ability to be on time. Neto has played all over the infield for Campbell but was the team’s everyday shortstop in 2022. He has solid hands and defensive actions, with easy plus arm strength that allows him to make challenging throws in the hole. As a pitcher, Neto has been up to 93 mph on the mound and that arm strength should give him a chance to stick on the left side of the infield. He’s an above-average runner with solid athleticism and has been an aggressive and successful baserunner with Campbell, going 28-for-33 (85%) in stolen base attempts for his career. For teams who think he’s a shortstop and any team heavily reliant on a model, Neto will stand out nicely in the 2022 draft class. He fits somewhere in the middle or back of the first round and should become Campbell’s first-ever first-round pick.