Angels shortstop Zach Neto was forced to exit Thursday’s game against the Chicago White Sox due to irritation in his right shoulder. The injury occurred in the fourth inning when Neto attempted to advance to second base on a pitch in the dirt, following a one-out infield single. The 23-year-old remained on the ground after being tagged out but was able to make his way back to the dugout with the help of team staff.

After the game, Neto expressed optimism about the injury, stating, “I’m not worried about it. Of course it’s something I want to keep my eye on, but nothing that’s gonna keep me out for too long.” Following Neto’s departure, Jack López shifted from second base to shortstop, and Michael Stefanic entered the game to fill the vacancy at second base. López’s error in the fifth inning proved costly for the Angels during Chicago’s seven-run offensive surge.

As a first-round pick in the 2022 amateur draft, Neto has showcased a solid performance this season, boasting a batting average of .249 along with 23 home runs, 77 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases in 155 games. Manager Ron Washington provided some insight into the injury, stating, “Just shoulder soreness. He dove and his shoulder got a little soreness in it. And since he just did it, I’m not going to push him out there tomorrow, whether he can go or not. You’ve got to take care of him.”

In addition to Neto’s absence, the Angels were also without first baseman Nolan Schanuel in the series finale against the White Sox. Schanuel had suffered a leg injury after fouling a ball off his right leg during Wednesday night’s game. Washington mentioned, “He’s moving around better. We’ll see where he is when we get back to Anaheim.”

The Angels will closely monitor the status of both players as they aim to navigate through the remainder of the season while prioritizing their players’ health and well-being.