"To see how big and how tight our family is, we just love each other a lot" - Zach Neto on his family and relationship with manager Ron Washington

It's been a disappointing season, to say the least, for the Los Angeles Angels. However, the same cannot be said about Zach Neto. The 23-year-old shortstop has been enjoying a true breakout campaign for the team and looks like a potential superstar in the making for the Halos.

The first-round pick of the Los Angeles Angels in the 2022 MLB draft, Neto has been a beacon of light in a rather dark season for the team. The talented shortstop has already set new career highs across the board and looks to be an integral piece of the Angels' rebuild. The potential superstar believes that the support he received from his family has been a key contributor to his success.

Neto said in an interview Friday on the "Under the Halo Podcast":

"I was grateful to have a family like that, two parents who would do anything for their son.

He explained how having family members defect from Cuba makes him appreciate everything he has now, saying:

"We all know where we came from, and we just can never forget those backgrounds."

The Angels infielder added:

"That's the support system I have had my whole life. To see how big and how tight our family is, we just love each other a lot."

He explained that the closeness of his family came from "a lot of years of being there and experiencing and just having a lot of support and love for each other."

Zach Neto dove into his budding relationship with manager Ron Washington

While Neto credited his family for helping him reach this stage of his life, the talented infielder also discussed the positive influence of Angels manager Ron Washington, saying:

"He has a lot of wisdom, a lot of baseball knowledge. I think on the baseball field we are the same person, we have the same qualities."

Neto said in admiration of his manager:

"We like to win ball games, no matter how we do it, how gritty the game gets. It's kind of like a father son relationship now. I look up to him."

Although things have not gone according to plan this season for the Angels, the experience of a prominent role in the lineup and learning from a champion such as Ron Washington could go a long way for Zach Neto in his career.