​One of the most remarkable stories in recent Rangers memory belongs to Jacob Latz. From an under-the-radar prospect to a spot starter and finally to an All-Star closer, Latz has evolved into one of Texas’s most valuable players. His unusual baseball journey has crafted him into a versatile weapon for the Rangers, and manager Skip Schumaker has relied on Latz to shoulder a heavy load in the Texas bullpen in 2026. Here are five key insights about the Rangers’ All-Star closer.
Jacob Eugene Latz is the man to know. He pitches left-handed, stands 6-2, and weighs about 185 pounds. Born on April 8, 1996, in Lemont, Illinois, Latz attended LSU and Kent State during his college career. He began his professional journey when drafted in the 11th round by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014, and later was selected by the Rangers in the fifth round of the 2017 draft. Latz made his MLB debut on August 25, 2021, marking the start of his major league career.
In 2026, Latz earned his first All-Star selection and became the Rangers’ lone representative at the All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Through the first half of the season, he posted an impressive 1.61 ERA and collected 18 saves over 44 2/3 innings pitched. His 1.7 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), as calculated by FanGraphs, ties him for the fifth-most among all relievers in baseball during that span, underscoring his impact on Texas’s bullpen.
Latz’s emergence as an All-Star closer surprised many. Heading into 2026, he did not appear on most people’s radar as a closer, and he was a late bloomer who had appeared in just four games for Texas before turning 28 in 2024. After missing out on a spot in Texas’s starting rotation behind Kumar Rocker, Latz shifted to the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever. Throughout 2024 and 2025, he continued to perform in high-leverage roles, eventually proving he was Texas’s most reliable bullpen arm.
A distinctive feature of Latz’s ascent is his background as a starter. In 2025, he posted a 2.84 ERA as a frequent spot starter, and over 10 career starts, he owns a 2.79 ERA across 48 1/3 innings. This starter’s history has translated well into his current closer role, enabling him to handle multi-inning saves. Schumaker has repeatedly trusted him in those demanding situations, and Latz has delivered. In the first half of the season, nine of his 18 saves required more than one inning, a testament to his durability and adaptability. Latz’s multi-inning saves lead all of baseball, with the next closest tally being Blue Jays closer Louis Varland at six.
Ironically, Latz’s first appearance of 2026 did not come from the bullpen at all. When Jacob deGrom was a late scratch in Texas’s second game of the season in Philadelphia, Latz stepped into the rotation and fired four hitless innings in relief of deGrom, setting a tone for what was to come that season. As the season progressed, Latz continued to distinguish himself, placing his name firmly in the Rangers’ record books.
Latz’s early-season feats included a remarkable opening stretch where the first 28 batters he faced in 2026 remained hitless, establishing a new franchise record for the most consecutive hitless at-bats to begin a season by a Rangers pitcher. In June, he tallied 11 saves, tying a franchise record for most saves in a single month and matching the marks set by Joe Nathan, Jeff Zimmerman, and John Wetteland. The combination of starting experience and bullpen versatility has allowed Latz to be trusted in crucial moments, as he has become a cornerstone of Texas’s late-inning strategy.
As Latz’s star continued to rise, the Rangers recognized the importance of treating him as a centerpiece of their pitching staff. His development from promising prospect to cornerstone closer has reshaped how Texas constructs its bullpen and how it leverages flexibility in late-inning situations. The team’s decision to lean on Latz’s multi-inning capabilities has paid dividends, yielding a closer who can finish games and also bridge from the starter to the late innings when necessary.
In summary, Jacob Latz’s ascent from relative anonymity to one of the most trusted arms in the Rangers’ bullpen is a story of perseverance, adaptability, and outstanding performance. His journey—from a late-round draftee to a trusted multi-inning reliever, to an All-Star closer—has defined a new era for Texas. As Latz continues to excel in 2026, he has become a symbol of what can happen when a player combines starting experience with relief prowess to become an elite weapon for his team.