Jake Latz

Jacob Eugene Latz (born April 8, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021.

Jake Latz
Latz with the Round Rock Express in 2023
Texas Rangers – No. 67
Pitcher
Born: (1996-04-08) April 8, 1996
Lemont, Illinois, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
MLB debut
August 25, 2021, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average2.45
Strikeouts9
Teams

Amateur career

Latz attended Lemont High School in Lemont, Illinois.[1] Latz pitched to a 10–0 record with a 0.23 ERA and 114 strikeouts over 62+1⁄3 innings his senior season of high school and was named the 2014 Illinois Player of the Year.[2] He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 11th round of the 2014 MLB draft, but turned down a $1 million signing bonus and attended Louisiana State University to play college baseball.[3][4] Latz was given a medical redshirt due to a stress reaction in his left elbow that caused him to miss the 2015 season.[5] He played for the DuPage County Hounds of the Midwest Collegiate League in 2015.[6] In 8+1⁄3 innings for the Tigers in 2016, he went 0–1 with a 7.56 ERA.[7] Latz transferred to Kent State University for the 2017 season and was forced to sit out the season due to transfer rules.[8][9] He was drafted the Texas Rangers in the 5th round of the 2017 MLB draft, and signed with them for a $386,100 signing bonus.[10][8]

Professional career

Latz made his professional debut in 2017 with the AZL Rangers of the Rookie-level Arizona League, going 0–1 with a 6.75 ERA over just 2+2⁄3 innings.[7] He played for the Spokane Indians of the Low–A Northwest League in 2018, going 6–3 with a 3.13 ERA and 67 strikeouts over 71 innings.[7] Latz split the 2019 season between the Hickory Crawdads of the Single–A South Atlantic League and the Down East Wood Ducks of the High–A Carolina League, going a combined 7–1 with 1.62 ERA and 74 strikeouts over 61 innings.[11] Due to the cancelation of the 2020 minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Latz joined the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Constellation Energy League.[4] Over 10+1⁄3 innings for Sugar Land, Latz posted a 2–1 record with a 4.35 ERA and 15 strikeouts.[7] He was assigned to the Rangers alternate training site in September 2020.[4] He split the 2021 minor league season between the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Central and the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A West, going a combined 2–2 with a 4.30 ERA and 119 strikeouts over 96+1⁄3 innings.[12][13]

On August 25, 2021, Texas selected his contact to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues to make his MLB debut that night against the Cleveland Indians. Due to 2021 MLB COVID-19 outbreak rules, his addition to the 40-man roster was temporary.[14] In his debut, he threw 4+2⁄3 innings while striking out 4 and suffering the loss.[15] He was returned to Round Rock and removed from the 40-man roster on August 30.[16] Latz spent the 2022 season back with Round Rock, going 5–5 with a 5.77 ERA, and 59 strikeouts over 53 innings.[17]

Latz returned to Round Rock to open the 2023 season.[18] In 46 appearances, he recorded a 4.10 ERA with 87 strikeouts and 7 saves in 63+2⁄3 innings of work.[19] On September 16, 2023, Texas selected Latz’s contract, adding him to the major league roster.[20]

References
  1. Dan Ruane (August 6, 2014). "Lemont possesses SEC talent in Jake Latz and Mike Papierski". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  2. Sean Duncan (December 27, 2014). "TOP 10 STORIES OF 2014: NO. 4 JAKE LATZ NAMED ILLINOIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR". Prep Baseball Report. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  3. Randy Rosetta (April 29, 2015). "LSU freshman Jake Latz is holding out hope that he can still make an impact this season". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  4. Bob Nightengale (September 3, 2020). "Without minor league baseball, Independent Leagues became more valuable and 'life-savers'". USA Today. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  5. Jarrett Major (April 11, 2016). "Tigers host McNeese State as Jake Latz makes pitching debut". The Daily Reveille. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  6. Conor Fredland. "6 Former MCL Players Selected in 2017 MLB Draft". Midwest Collegiate League. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  7. "Jake Latz player page". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  8. Pat Disabato (June 13, 2017). "Lemont's Jake Latz among six Southland baseball players drafted on Day 2". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  9. Chandler Rome (June 24, 2016). "LSU baseball's Jake Latz to leave program". The Advocate. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  10. Stefan Stevenson (June 20, 2017). "Rangers sign eight more players from draft". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  11. Levi Weaver (March 3, 2021). "From Alexy to Yang: Notes on every pitcher on the Rangers spring training roster". The Athletic. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  12. Weaver, Levi (October 4, 2021). "Grading the 2021 Texas Rangers: Pitchers edition". The Athletic. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  13. Chris Halicke (April 27, 2021). "Eight Top 30 Rangers Prospects Highlight Double-A Frisco Roster". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  14. García, Megan (August 25, 2021). "Leiter helps Rangers rise in farm rankings". MLB.com. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  15. García, Megan (August 25, 2021). "Latz looking to be 'finer' moving forward". MLB.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  16. Blake, John (August 30, 2021). "Rangers recall RHP A.J. Alexy and activate RHP Joe Barlow". MLB.com. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  17. "Preliminary 2022 Round Rock Express Roster Announced". MiLB.com. March 31, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  18. "Rangers' Jake Latz: Sent to minor-league camp". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  19. "Rangers recall LHP Jake Latz from Triple-A Round Rock, place RHP Ian Kennedy on IL". dallasnews.com. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  20. "Rangers' Jake Latz: Back in majors". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
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