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Rangers Pitcher's Velocity Plummets in Spring Training
21 Mar
Summary
- Latz's fastball velocity dropped significantly during his last spring start.
- He gave up nine earned runs in just three innings against the Brewers.
- Kumar Rocker is a strong contender for the fifth starter position.
Jacob Latz, a reliable pitcher for the Texas Rangers over the past year, faced a concerning performance dip in his final spring training start. He struggled significantly against the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing eight hits and nine earned runs within three innings pitched. A perplexing aspect of his outing was a noticeable loss of fastball velocity, decreasing by two miles per hour in the latter half of his appearance.
Despite feeling his mechanics were sound, Latz's performance and velocity concerns may simplify the Texas Rangers' decisions regarding their starting rotation and bullpen composition. Latz's spring training ERA stands at 8.22. This performance contrasts with that of fellow competitor Kumar Rocker, who has posted a 4.26 ERA and built up to 70 pitches. Rocker is likely to secure the fifth starter spot, positioning Latz as a bullpen asset, a role he excelled in last season as a swing man.
The Rangers are expected to finalize their opening day roster soon, with several bullpen spots still under consideration. Latz will provide valuable left-handed depth, while competition for remaining right-handed spots includes several candidates. The team is strategically assessing pitcher workloads and velocity as they prepare for the upcoming season.
