The Texas Rangers will have one representative at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, and it is a pitcher who began the year fighting for a rotation spot. Reliever Jacob Latz was named to the American League squad on Saturday, selected by the Commissioner's Office for the July 14 contest in Philadelphia.
Latz, a 30-year-old left-hander, claimed the closer role in late April after manager Skip Schumaker handed him the job. He earned American League Reliever of the Month for June, posting a 1.13 ERA over 16 innings with an MLB-leading 11 saves, a Rangers franchise record for a single month.
His season numbers are eye-catching: a 1.71 ERA, a 0.62 WHIP, and a .120 opponent batting average. Latz leads all of Major League Baseball in saves of four or more outs with nine, and multi-inning saves with five, showcasing his ability to handle extended workloads out of the bullpen.
He becomes the ninth Rangers or Senators reliever to make the All-Star Game, the first since Kirby Yates in 2024. Latz also registered three saves of two or more innings in June alone, more than any other MLB pitcher has recorded during the entire 2026 campaign.
Drafted out of Kent State in the fifth round in 2017, Latz made his debut in August 2021. He said the congratulations from teammates and Schumaker's announcement were a moment he would remember forever, and that it is still difficult to fully describe the feeling of being recognized among the best in the game.
