- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,207,701
- Reaction score
- 59
Back in Spring Training, when Jacob Latz was competing for the Texas Rangers' final starting rotation spot, you would probably not have thought he was going to take over as the team’s closer, let alone win an award for it.
You and pretty much everyone else would have thought wrong.
On Friday morning, Latz was named the American League’s Reliever of the Month for June, becoming the first Ranger to win the honor since MLB began awarding league Reliever of the Month distinctions in 2017.
In 12 June appearances, Latz went 11-for-11 in save opportunities and posted an ERA of just 1.13 in 16 innings while allowing just six hits and four walks with 19 strikeouts, a 0.63 WHIP and an opponent's batting average of just .133.
Three times in the month, Latz earned a save of two innings or more, marking more in a single month than any other pitcher in MLB has all season.
Latz’s 11 saves in June were two more than any other pitcher had. He becomes one of only 2 A.L. relievers to collect 11 saves in a single month over the last three seasons.
More impressively, Latz became the third A.L. pitcher since saves were first tracked in 1969 to post 11-or-more saves, 19-or-more strikeouts, six-or-fewer hits, and four-or-fewer walks in any month.
Among A.L. pitchers with 50-or-more batters faced in June, Latz led the AL in opponent OPS (.364) and ranked highly in opponent OBP (2nd, .175), opponent average (third), opponent slugging (third, .189), and hits per 9.0 innings (third, 3.38).
Also, in base runners per 9.0 innings (third, 5.63), WHIP (fourth), and fielding-independent pitching (10th, 2.32).
In the Rangers' history books, Latz matched a franchise record for saves in a single month, tying Joe Nathan, who also accomplished the feat in June back in 2013. Nathan and Latz are the only pitchers in team history with 11 saves and no blown saves in a month.
On the season, Latz is 1-1 with 18 saves, a 1.71 ERA (8 ER/42.0 IP), a 0.62 WHIP, a .120 opponent average (17-142), and 43 strikeouts in 33 games.
Latz also has accrued a team-high 1.9 Baseball Reference wins above replacement, the second-highest mark by an A.L. reliever.
With the honor, Latz becomes the first Rangers player to earn an MLB monthly honor since right-handed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi was tabbed as A.L. Pitcher of the Month in July 2025.
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
You and pretty much everyone else would have thought wrong.
On Friday morning, Latz was named the American League’s Reliever of the Month for June, becoming the first Ranger to win the honor since MLB began awarding league Reliever of the Month distinctions in 2017.
In 12 June appearances, Latz went 11-for-11 in save opportunities and posted an ERA of just 1.13 in 16 innings while allowing just six hits and four walks with 19 strikeouts, a 0.63 WHIP and an opponent's batting average of just .133.
Three times in the month, Latz earned a save of two innings or more, marking more in a single month than any other pitcher in MLB has all season.
Latz’s 11 saves in June were two more than any other pitcher had. He becomes one of only 2 A.L. relievers to collect 11 saves in a single month over the last three seasons.
More impressively, Latz became the third A.L. pitcher since saves were first tracked in 1969 to post 11-or-more saves, 19-or-more strikeouts, six-or-fewer hits, and four-or-fewer walks in any month.
Among A.L. pitchers with 50-or-more batters faced in June, Latz led the AL in opponent OPS (.364) and ranked highly in opponent OBP (2nd, .175), opponent average (third), opponent slugging (third, .189), and hits per 9.0 innings (third, 3.38).
Also, in base runners per 9.0 innings (third, 5.63), WHIP (fourth), and fielding-independent pitching (10th, 2.32).
In the Rangers' history books, Latz matched a franchise record for saves in a single month, tying Joe Nathan, who also accomplished the feat in June back in 2013. Nathan and Latz are the only pitchers in team history with 11 saves and no blown saves in a month.
On the season, Latz is 1-1 with 18 saves, a 1.71 ERA (8 ER/42.0 IP), a 0.62 WHIP, a .120 opponent average (17-142), and 43 strikeouts in 33 games.
Latz also has accrued a team-high 1.9 Baseball Reference wins above replacement, the second-highest mark by an A.L. reliever.
With the honor, Latz becomes the first Rangers player to earn an MLB monthly honor since right-handed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi was tabbed as A.L. Pitcher of the Month in July 2025.
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
