LOS ANGELES – Zach Neto was selected 13th overall in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels Sunday night in Los Angeles. The selection makes Neto the highest draft pick in Campbell baseball program history.
Neto was tabbed the 2021 and 2022 Big South Player of the Year, as well as a unanimous 2022 all-American by all major publications.
The Miami native finishes in rare air among hitters, slashing .403/.500/.751 in 100 career games at Campbell. He is Campbell’s all-time batting average leader among hitters with 300 ABs, second all-time in OBP, and second all-time in slugging percentage.
Nationally, he led all active players at the end of the 2022 season with at least 100 career games played in batting average and slugging, and was second in OBP.
Neto collected 152 hits during his time in Buies Creek, with nearly half (72) going for extra bases via 40 doubles, five triples, and 27 home runs. He also worked more walks (56) than strikeouts (49) and stole 31 bases.
On the other side of the ball, Neto posted a career .950 fielding percentage settling in as Campbell’s primary shortstop over the last year and a half.
He also earned a 5-0 record on the mound along with three saves. He posted a 3.25 ERA in 27.2 innings while striking out 27.
Neto is the 42nd player to ever be drafted out of Campbell as well as the highest pick, surpassing Seth Johnson, who went R1-P40 in the 2019 draft to Tampa Bay. He is the 10th player to be selected since Justin Haire took over the program in 2015.
In addition, he is the first true infielder to be taken out of Campbell since Derek Barrows in 2003, and only the second primary shortstop to get taken, joining Greg Cloninger who was drafted in 1987.
Additionally, he is the highest draft pick in the history of the Big South conference, and the first non-compensatory first-round pick.
He is the first Camel to ever be drafted by the Angels.
