Latz will enter spring training in a competition for Texas’ fifth and final spot in the starting rotation.
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jacob Latz finishes out the last Baltimore Orioles batter in the ninth inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington, July 1, 2025. The Rangers won, 10-2.FRISCO — In the midst of a declaration of interest in a rotation gig, one that he’s already given numerous times before,“That’s what I’ve wanted to do, but now, it’s a realistic thing,” Latz said Wednesday night at one of the club’s Winter Warmup events.
“You can always motivate yourself in different ways, but, when it’s real, it’s different.” His chance to start for the Rangers remains real. It only became a tad more different Thursday, less than a day after Latz spoke at at the Frisco Embassy Suites, when the The trade bolstered the rotation, gave the Rangers one of baseball’s most formidable staffs and certified their intention to compete this seasonLatz, who split time between the rotation and bullpen last season, is expected to compete for the fifth and final starter gig in camp alongside right-hander Kumar Rocker. That equation doesn’t include left-hander Cody Bradford, who both started and relieved in his first two big league seasons, despite his expected May return from an internal brace procedure . Rocker, who had a 5.74 ERA in 14 starts last season, is the only one of the three without professional bullpen experience. It’s not out of the question that all three will make starts next season given the attrition that a rotation experiences over the course of a 162-game campaign. It’s also not out of the question that one or two are inserted into key bullpen positions given their relief needs.Opening day roster and role decisions, though, will be made based upon which alignment best benefits the team’s rotation and bullpen. General manager Ross Fenstermaker said Friday that the trade gives the club “optionality” but that they’ve yet to determine who will hold the final rotation spot. “We’ve talked a little bit about doing that analysis come spring training,” Fenstermaker said. “Obviously, it’s slotting in a staple in the rotation at this point, which maybe creates a little more competition at the back end of the rotation. It’s not a decision that we anticipate making right now.” The Rangers allowed Latz to prepare and build up as a starter this winter but did not specifically direct him to“That’ll be my mentality,” Latz said. “Anticipating to be a starter and going out there and trying to win over a job.”He made a decent case in the runway afforded to him last season. The former fifth-round draft pick had a 2.72 ERA in eight starts, allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his rotation appearances and pitched past the fifth inning in three of his last four. That doesn’t include the 2.93 ERA he posted in 25 relief appearances peppered throughought the course of the season and, often, in between his sporadic rotation opportunities. In the singular instance which he made four consecutive starts on regular rest, from Aug. 27-Sep. 14, he had a 2.25 ERA in 20 innings. Two of those starts were against postseason teams. Latz aknowledged that it was a good season. He still wants to take “another jump” in performance and ability. His 3.89 walks per nine innings last season were the second-most among any Rangers pitcher who threw more than 50 innings. He lamented an abundance of “uncompetitive pitches” that batters were able to easily avoid. He still hasn’t thrown more than 88 pitches in any big league start. “There’s still a lot of areas to clean up,” Latz said. “If I can do that, I think, it’ll be more exciting.”The decision remains out of his control from there. The Rangers will enter camp with four rotation spots spoken for in right-handers Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Jack Leiter and Gore. Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young did not inherently rule out further moves, either, with still three weeks left before pitchers and catchers report. The capability and readiness of any potential additions could impact how easily Latz figures into the equation. His relief experience and swing-and-miss ability could play in a rebuilt bullpen that still has a need for high-leverage arms. It could play in the rotation, too, as the Rangers have already seen. “I think it’s as a big of a year as it gets for me,” Latz said. “Every year is like that. We all say that. But, it really is for me, whatever direction it goes.”Shawn covers the Texas Rangers and college sports for The News. He joined The Dallas Morning News after covering UConn basketball, football and high school sports for The Hartford Courant. A Boston area native, Shawn graduated from Springfield College in 2018 and previously worked for The Boston Globe and Baseball America.More than 1,000 flights canceled at DFW Airport, Love Field with winter storm ahead
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