GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- As shortstop Zach Neto continues to develop his game after a promising rookie year, there’s nobody better to learn from than Angels manager Ron Washington.

Neto, 23, has been a star pupil this spring in the school of Washington, which stresses daily defensive work and improving leadership skills. Neto is headed into his first full season as the club's regular shortstop and enjoying learning from Washington.

“He’s told me I’m the quarterback of the infield,” Neto said. “We pretty much dictate to everybody on where to be and to be on the same page. For me, that’s what I live for. It’s something I’ve been doing my whole life and to do it on the biggest stage is awesome.”

Like the other infielders in camp, Neto has daily infield work with Washington and infield coach Ryan Goins, which begins bright and early at 7:45 a.m. The coaches utilize the club’s half-field to go through Washington’s specialized drills that start with the infielders fielding grounders from their knees.

It’s a structured four-minute drill that begins with the coach throwing the ball into the ground at different angles before the coach uses his fungo bat to hit the ball to the player. Washington also has the infielder use custom-designed “pancake” gloves for part of the drill to emphasize using their off-hand to secure the ball once it’s in their glove.

“The only thing that the infielders should be concerned about is the last hop,” Washington said. “The last hop is what he catches.”

Washington also wants his infielders to catch the ball in the same part of the glove every time even if it’s a backhanded play or a play to their glove side. He said that if everything is done correctly, worst-case the infielder knocks the ball in front of himself and can still make the play. Neto said it’s all about creating the correct angle to the ball and being in the right position.

“He's a big believer in pushing through the ball,” Neto said. “That’s something we’ve been working on and trying to perfect. I’m doing it every day so it helps. Just work on different angles and the backhand and forehand and attacking the ball with my left foot forward.”

Washington estimated that his infielders field 97 grounders during the four-minute drill, which is also a better way to conserve energy instead of fielding nearly 100 regular grounders. After their morning drills, the infielders progress to a more traditional infield practice but with a better base because of the work on their hands and glovework.

“When we hit the field, that's where we start working the feet and then the feet and the hands start syncing up,” Washington said. “But in the morning, it's only about your hands. We get those ready and it’s easier to sync the feet.”

Neto said he’s enjoyed the defensive work with Washington and Goins and also told Washington he’d prefer to hit ninth this season to serve as a second leadoff hitter. Neto has been off to a solid start offensively this spring, hitting .346 with two homers and seven RBIs in 11 games, including going 1-for-3 against the Guardians in the Angels' 5-4 win on Saturday.

“I've been feeling good,” Neto said. “But I try not to look back on what's already happened. I try to be where my feet are, but I’ve been seeing the ball pretty good, making good contact. Just trying to hit the ball hard, which has been my goal this spring.”

Washington has liked what he’s seen from Neto, who utilizes a high leg kick when at the plate and said he doesn’t see any reason to change it.

“It’s successful right now,” Washington said. “You don't have to make an adjustment off it right now. Everything he's doing is working.”

Anderson turns in strong outing

Lefty Tyler Anderson continued his solid spring with 3 1/3 scoreless innings against the Guardians on Saturday and has a 3.24 ERA with 10 strikeouts and no walks in 8 1/3 frames this spring. Anderson, 34, is looking to bounce back after posting a 5.43 ERA in 141 innings last season.

He said he’s still working to fine-tune his command but was mostly pleased with the way he threw against Cleveland. He threw first-pitch strikes to nine of the 14 batters he faced.

“It felt good,” Anderson said. “I didn’t get ahead as much as I wanted but I was still competing. I think just in general it’s good to know that hitting with a 2-0 count is a lot easier than 0-2.”