Why a 30-Year-Old Lefty is the Texas Rangers Secret Rotation Weapon
Jacob Latz, the 30-year-old from Lemont, Illinois, was drafted in the fifth round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers and has repeatedly reassured the Rangers of his value. The former Golden Flasher from Kent State University has a career starting record of 4-4 with a sub-three ERA. However, it's not his career stats that have his name in MLB headlines; it's what he's doing as a reliever in the Rangers' rotation. Throughout the 2026 Spring Training, the same question was being asked in the clubhouse and among the fanbase: Who's going to be the fifth starter in the Rangers' rotation? Latz and Kumar Rocker were in somewhat of a position battle for that fifth spot, but manager Skip Schumaker decided to give Rocker the nod, leaving Latz in a relief spot or as an emergency starter in case someone gets injured. With that being said, Latz has already come in for an emergency last-minute injury, as in the first series of the new season, Jacob deGrom had some neck stiffness that kept him out of the game, and the lefty didn't disappoint. In his one start, he pitched four shutout innings and allowed only one walk.
In relief this year, Latz has been excellent; near perfect. In four games he's appeared in this season, and he hasn't given up a single hit, a perfect 0.00 ERA, and eight strikeouts in five innings. Usually, in the top reliever lists in the MLB, you expect names such as Mason Miller or Edwin Diaz. Still, with Latz's historic start, he's placed at the very top of the MLB leaderboard, ranked first in the MLB with his aforementioned zero ERA, 11th with a WHIP of 0.22 making it seemingly impossible for hitters even to reach base, and ranked 20th in the MLB in innings pitched for a reliever with nine, making the Illinois native a standout bridge weapon and a multi-inning pitching machine. What's fascinating about Latz is the fact that he's only gone over 20 pitches in an inning twice, with one of them being back on March 28th against the Phillies in his only start of the season so far. It shows that in his nine years in the league, he's proven himself coachable, continuously tweaks his game to make it better day in and day out, and has quickly risen to the solid, reliable veteran status he, so far, has rightfully earned.
With the current struggles of the veteran Chris Martin, carrying a 7.20 ERA with a 1-1 record through five innings pitched, and the question mark of Robert Garcia, who, yes, holds an impressive 2.25 ERA, but that's only through four innings pitched and already a loss under his belt, don't be surprised if Schumaker thinks more highly of Latz and his willingness to use him more often during relief in tougher spots or even to get his confidence higher than it already is, and stick him in a game where he can get a quick one-two-three inning. Something Rangers fans should keep an eye on is if Rocker starts to slide in his production in the starting role, will Latz replace him? Would Rocker end up on the hot seat and get sent down to the Triple-A affiliate and be more of a rotation guy, or will the Rangers decide to keep him in the bullpen and not ruin a good thing, as the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
