Rangers watching Jacob Latz display unique level of dominance but danger looms

While the fans were watching the offense, Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob Latz was quietly doing something no closer has done in years. So far this season, he has three saves of at least two innings each.

A rare feat, it’s the most any reliever has gathered since the 2022 season, when then-Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher David Bednar had four. Only halfway through the season, Latz is currently on pace to have the most saves over the past decade, at least as many as Josh Hader’s nine-save season in 2019. Honestly, if he can come anywhere near that last stat, then the Rangers might finally announce him as their official closer.

The Rangers will face a tough choice on how to best deploy the unique weapon that Jacob Latz has become

So far in his fifth MLB season, Latz has earned nine saves through 29 innings pitched with a 1.86 ERA. All-star level and definitely closer material, the Rangers have yet to give him the official nod. Any anointing you've seen has been done by the fans and media, not the team itself. 2026 began with a historic run of dominance by Latz, starting out by holding opponents to an 0-for-30 stretch, the longest hitless streak in franchise history.

The Rangers haven't officially named a closer to date this season, instead rotating through several different relievers depending on the matchup. While weird, it's actually something that has become the new norm in baseball, especially for clubs without a dominant late-inning arm.

What has become clear, however, is that Texas relies on Latz in high-leverage situations. That's reflected in these two-inning-plus saves where the veteran lefty is basically serving as his own setup man.

That has been what has made Latz such an effective weapon. He can come in and work multiple innings, either to close out the game or to preserve a tight lead earlier on and serve as a fireman of sorts. That brings up a question as to what his best role truly is.

At some point, the Rangers may not be able to rely on a closer-by-committee approach. Latz is making sure that his maximizing the club's temptation to name him the full-time closer every time he pulls off a 2+ inning save. Nearly every time he walks out there, he's doing something most closers can't or won't.

However, that's where the paradox begins. That multi-inning dominance has made Latz unique, but it cuts like a double-edged sword. The Rangers are benefiting from his ability to lock down multiple innings at a time, but as the season wears on, they'll be faced with a difficult choice.

Do they continue using Latz for extended high-leverage appearances, upping the risk of injury and potentially negatively impacting his performance due to burnout? Or do they finally bite the bullet and name him the official closer and use him in a more traditional manner, potentially exposing lesser relievers to pressure-packed situations?

It's not an easy answer, but it's one that the club will have to contend with eventually. As unique as Latz has been, he can't continue to be used in this manner unless his appearances are spread out sufficiently, which again poses another problem.

Perhaps the best path forward is a hybrid approach where they rein him in and have him focus on the ninth inning, while reserving the right to extend him sporadically in key games. That's easier said than done, and will require some willpower from Skip Schumaker, but it really is the best way to use such a unique weapon.

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