'She's a special woman': For Neto, mom is always a call away

ANAHEIM -- Angels shortstop Zach Neto has the same routine before and after every game.

He makes sure to call his mom, Maggie, to talk about life, baseball and everything in between to help him stay grounded and positive during the grueling baseball season. The time difference can make it difficult because his mom and his dad, Joaquin, live in Miami but they always find a way to make it work.

“My mom means everything to me,” Neto said. “I talk to her every day, whether it’s a good or a bad day. Just making sure I have a phone call with my mom before the game and after the game. She does her best to wake up whenever I call after late nights with the time change. So that can be pretty tough, and it just shows you the person she is. She's my biggest fan and she's been there since Day 1.”

Neto, 24, has emerged as a face of the franchise for the Angels, leading the club in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) last year and he is off to a strong start this season after missing the first 18 games of the season because of shoulder surgery in November. But he credits his mom for instilling the value of a strong work ethic and developing self-confidence. His mom is now retired after a successful career working for AT&T and she still always makes time for Neto and his passion for baseball. He honored her on Mother’s Day on Sunday by using a pink bat and pink batting gloves in the Angels’ 7-3 loss to the Orioles at Angel Stadium.

“She's a special woman,” Neto said. “And I thank her for taking me to all the tournaments as a little kid, especially in Florida, playing year-round. Going to work and taking me to practice and games after her work. She’d get up at six in the morning and wouldn’t go to bed until like two in the morning, making sure I have my laundry done for the next day for my games. I like to think I’m a hard worker but she’s No. 1.”

Neto said his daily conversations with his mom help with his mindset and she often reminds him that baseball is supposed to be fun. Her advice has helped keep him even-keel during the ups and downs of a season.

“She tells me every day, ‘Don't think, have fun, just go out there and play your game,’” Neto said. “She says it’s always good seeing me on TV with a smile on my face. So I try to do the best for her and my family. And just know that no matter what happens, that my family is always gonna be there.”

Neto said his parents usually come to two homestands a year and usually two road cities as well. His father, a Navy veteran, still works as a city carrier for the United States Postal Service but they try to see Neto play as often as possible.

“Whenever they come, it’s like a dream come true,” Neto said. “I feel it's like my debut all over again. They’re trying to knock all the away ballparks out. It's special to see them.”

Away from the field, Neto said they have a shared passion for bowling as a family and begrudgingly admitted his dad is a slightly better bowler than him. But he said his mom can hold her own and played softball growing up. Neto bowls left-handed because of an injury sustained as a youngster and said he loves being competitive with his family. He also has an older brother, Andrew, and a sister, Meghan.

“We're big on bowling,” Neto said. “My mom, my dad and myself love bowling. Whenever we get time away from baseball or we just want to get out of the house, we're like let's go be competitive and go bowl. My dad and I are kind of right there competitively but my mom she's always there for support.”