Rangers' Jacob Latz: Still in hunt for rotation
Texas manager Skip Schumaker said Saturday that Latz's chances of earning a roster spot will not be affected by the results of his final spring start, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Latz allowed nine runs on eight hits and two walks over three innings in a Cactus League outing Thursday, inflating his spring ERA to 8.22. "You don't make or break a team or a position on the last day of spring, or last couple days of spring," Schumaker said of Latz. The Rangers' main concern is the southpaw's inability to maintain velocity deeper into games this spring, which could prevent him from providing at least five effective innings in a start. Latz's main competition for the final spot in the rotation is Kumar Rocker, who has excelled his last two times out but still has things the organization would like him to work on, such as his changeup usage. Non-roster veterans Austin Gomber and Cal Quantrill are also still in the mix.
