Could Jake Latz Be the Answer to the Rangers’ Starting Pitching Woes?
ARLINGTON — As a reliever, Jake Latz very nearly met the major qualifications for a quality start Thursday. So what about taking the relief part out of it? Now, there’s an idea. After Latz pitched 5 ⅔ innings, allowing only a solo homer to the first batter he faced, as the lone bright spot for the Rangers in a 4-1 loss to Kansas City, manager Bruce Bochy wouldn’t rule out the possibility of transitioning to another role.
Latz threw 82 pitches, a career high. He threw 60 pitches in three-plus innings as the starter in a bullpen game on June 8. The Rangers are currently without Nathan Eovaldi, who could be back in the next 10 days, and Tyler Mahle, who is out for much longer. They have two rookies, Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker in the rotation at the moment. And they are monitoring Jacob deGrom’s workload.
The Case for Latz as a Starter
“I think he has the stuff to where he could start and it certainly is an option,” Bochy said. “You look at what he did today and where he’s at pitching count and we’re a little nicked up in the rotation, so sure it’s an option. He gives you a pretty good option. He’s been pitching with a lot of confidence and he’s getting all of his pitches over for strikes.”
Latz’s outing marked the first time a Ranger pitcher who entered in relief lasted at least five innings and allowed one or fewer runs since Jordan Lyles in 2021. But Lyles was a starter, simply thrust into a temporary “bulk” role as an experiment. It was the first time a guy who had pitched primarily as a reliever all year lasted that long with that kind of success since Ross Wolf went 6 ⅔ innings as the last reliever in an 18-inning game against Toronto in 2013.
Latz’s Recent Performance
Latz has continued to move up the pecking order in the Rangers’ bullpen over the last month. Since what amounted to a dugout pep talk from Chris Young designed to instill more aggressiveness in the pitcher, Latz has responded with a 2.37 ERA and a .200 opponents batting average allowed.
On Thursday, after rookie Jac Caglianone clubbed a pitch at his neck out of the park for his first career homer, he retired 17 of the next 19 hitters without striking out a batter. With two outs in the seventh, he walked catcher Freddy Fermin and Bochy replaced him. Had he finished the inning, he would have met the qualifications for a quality start — six innings, three or fewer runs allowed — in a relief role. Since 2000, the Rangers have had only nine such outings.
What’s Next for Latz?
The Rangers hope to have Cody Bradford begin a rehab assignment in the next week, but a fever of 103 degrees earlier this week has pushed those plans back several days. Bradford will throw a bullpen session in Pittsburgh this weekend, providing he’s recovered well enough, and then the Rangers will decide. Jon Gray also is rehabbing from a broken wrist, but hasn’t yet faced hitters, so he is weeks from beginning a rehab assignment.
It creates the potential for another starter to step in. The Rangers have pitched bullpen games three times in their last 10 games. The idea of starting more often certainly intrigued Latz. “I’ve always, deep down, wanted to be a starter,” Latz said. “I’ve enjoyed being in the bullpen as well. Obviously, I just want to pitch. Regardless, whatever the need is, I’m here to fill it. I just want to be a contributor to the team. So I’ll let that be their decision. But I’m not really focused on it at the moment.”
Conclusion
The Rangers are considering all options to strengthen their starting rotation, and Jake Latz is giving them something to think about. With his recent performance and career-high pitch count, he could be the answer to their starting pitching woes. Only time will tell if Latz will make the transition to a starter, but for now, he remains a valuable asset to the Rangers’ bullpen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Jake Latz’s current role in the Rangers’ bullpen?
A: Jake Latz is currently a reliever for the Texas Rangers.
Q: How many innings did Latz pitch in his recent outing?
A: Latz pitched 5 ⅔ innings, allowing only a solo homer to the first batter he faced.
Q: Is Latz being considered as a starter for the Rangers?
A: Yes, manager Bruce Bochy has not ruled out the possibility of transitioning Latz to a starter role.
Q: What is Latz’s career-high pitch count?
A: Latz threw 82 pitches in his recent outing, a career high.
