Jacob Latz Bio
Jacob Eugene Latz (born April 8, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed pitcher, he made his MLB debut in 2021 and has spent the bulk of his professional career working as a reliever. He is recognized for a long developmental path through the Rangers’ minor league system, highlighted by a strong debut season at the Low-A level and a memorable 2019 campaign across two A-ball affiliates.
Early Life and Background
Jacob Eugene Latz was born on April 8, 1996, in Lemont, Illinois, and grew up in the same southwest suburb of Chicago where he later attended high school. He developed into a standout pitcher at Lemont High School, where he put together a remarkable senior season. Across 62 and one-third innings as a senior, Latz posted a 10–0 record with a 0.23 ERA and 114 strikeouts, a performance that established him as one of the top high school arms in the state of Illinois.
For his efforts, Latz was named the 2014 Illinois Player of the Year. That same summer, the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 11th round of the 2014 MLB Draft and offered him a reported $1 million signing bonus, but Latz opted to continue his baseball development in college. He enrolled at Louisiana State University to play college baseball for the LSU Tigers, beginning a multi-year collegiate journey that would eventually lead him to the professional ranks.
Path to Baseball
Latz’s path to professional baseball was shaped by a series of injury setbacks and program changes. After his freshman year at LSU, a stress reaction in his left elbow cost him the 2015 season and resulted in a medical redshirt. While recovering, he gained summer experience with the DuPage County Hounds of the Midwest Collegiate League. Returning to LSU in 2016, he struggled in limited work, going 0–1 with a 7.56 ERA over eight and one-third innings, which prompted a transfer.
He moved to Kent State University for the 2017 season, though NCAA transfer rules forced him to sit out the year. Despite not pitching competitively that spring, Latz drew enough scouting interest to be selected by the Texas Rangers in the fifth round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He signed with the Rangers for a $386,100 signing bonus, ending his college career and launching his professional baseball journey.
Jacob Latz Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Latz made his professional debut in 2017 with the AZL Rangers of the Rookie-level Arizona League, though his first taste of pro ball was brief, going 0–1 with a 6.75 ERA over just two and two-thirds innings. The following year, he was assigned to the Spokane Indians of the Low-A Northwest League, where his development took a significant step forward. Working as a starter, Latz went 6–3 with a 3.13 ERA and 67 strikeouts over 71 innings, establishing himself as a promising left-handed arm in the Rangers’ system.
His performance in Spokane helped set the stage for a move up the ladder, and by 2019, the Rangers had enough confidence in his progression to test him against more advanced competition. The groundwork laid during his time in the Pacific Northwest remains a foundational piece of his development story.
Minor League Breakthrough (2019–2021)
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. The combined campaign was his most dominant to that point, as he went 7–1 with a 1.62 ERA and 74 strikeouts over 61 innings across the two affiliates. The low ERA and high strikeout totals signaled a pitcher ready for higher-level challenges.
The 2020 minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing Latz to find work elsewhere. He joined the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Constellation Energy League, where he posted a 2–1 record with a 4.35 ERA and 15 strikeouts over ten and one-third innings. He was later assigned to the Rangers’ alternate training site in September 2020. In 2021, he split the year 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 and one-third innings, a heavy workload that led to his first major league opportunity.
MLB Debut and Rangers Era (2021–2024)
On August 25, 2021, the Texas Rangers selected Latz’s contract to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues, where he made his MLB debut that night against the Cleveland Indians. The promotion was made under 2021 MLB COVID-19 roster rules and was temporary in nature. In his debut, Latz threw four and two-thirds innings, struck out four batters, and took the loss. He was returned to Round Rock and removed from the 40-man roster on August 30, 2021.
Latz spent the 2022 season back at Round Rock, going 5–5 with a 5.77 ERA and 59 strikeouts over 53 innings. He returned to Round Rock to open the 2023 season and enjoyed a strong bounce-back year, recording a 4.10 ERA with 87 strikeouts and 7 saves over 63 and two-thirds innings across 46 appearances, showcasing a growing reliability in the bullpen. On September 16, 2023, the Rangers selected his contract once again, and he made three scoreless appearances for Texas, striking out five across six and one-third innings. In 2024, Latz settled into a full-time relief role, making 46 appearances out of the bullpen for the Rangers and compiling a 2–3 record with a 3.71 ERA and 40 strikeouts across 43 and two-thirds innings pitched.
Driving Style and Strengths
Latz operates primarily as a left-handed relief pitcher and has shown the ability to miss bats at every level of professional baseball, posting consistently high strikeout totals relative to his innings. His track record in shorter stints suggests he is best utilized in matchup-based situations, and his ability to log multiple innings when needed gives his manager flexibility out of the bullpen.
Notable Events and Milestones
Latz’s most notable moments include his 2014 Illinois Player of the Year award, his 2019 minor league campaign in which he posted a 1.62 ERA across two affiliates, and his MLB debut on August 25, 2021, against the Cleveland Indians. His 2023 return to the majors, capped by three scoreless appearances, and his 46-outing 2024 season further cemented his place in the Rangers’ bullpen picture.
Jacob Latz Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Jacob Eugene Latz was raised in Lemont, Illinois, where he attended Lemont High School. Public details about his parents and broader family background are not widely documented, and little additional information is available regarding his personal life outside of baseball. As of the most recent verified records, no public information on marital status, spouse, or children has been confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Latz was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock to begin the 2025 season, signaling that the Rangers wanted him to continue refining his work in a high-leverage relief role at the highest level of the minors. With his major league track record now established through the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, the early portion of 2025 has been treated as an opportunity to maintain sharpness and readiness.
Throughout his time in the Rangers organization, Latz has been valued for his strikeout ability and his willingness to pitch in a variety of roles, from multi-inning appearances to shorter leverage situations. The combination of his 2024 major league experience and his ongoing work at Round Rock positions him as a candidate to be recalled to the Texas bullpen whenever the team needs left-handed relief depth.
Looking ahead, Latz’s outlook for the 2025 season depends largely on performance at Triple-A Round Rock and the bullpen needs of the parent club in Arlington. Given his track record of missing bats and his comfort in one-inning or multi-inning stints, he remains a useful depth option for the Texas Rangers as the season unfolds.