Mat Latos
Encyclopedia
Mathew Adam "Mat" Latos (born December 9, 1987 in Alexandria, Virginia
) is a Major League Baseball
pitcher for the San Diego Padres
.
in Coconut Creek, Florida
. He was drafted by the Padres in the 11th round (333rd overall) of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft
. Although scouts throughout baseball agreed he had first-round talent, he fell in the draft since his personality made him difficult to handle in high school. The Padres didn’t sign him until he spent a year at Broward College where he matured. The Padres paid Latos $1.25 million a few days before he would have re-entered the draft in 2007.
, the Rookie league farm team for the San Diego Padres, in .
In , Latos spent time in Eugene again, and was promoted to Class A Fort Wayne
.
Latos was invited to the Padres spring training
in , but suffered a minor ankle sprain. He then started the season in Fort Wayne, and after 4 starts he allowed only 1 run, and was promoted to the Class AA San Antonio Missions
. At San Antonio, Mat had 5 wins and 1 loss, and threw 5 perfect innings in his last start there on July 9.
Latos was selected to play in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game
, and threw one scoreless inning. He was promoted to make his major league debut on Sunday, July 19, 2009 against the Colorado Rockies
.
On May 13, 2010, Latos threw a complete game shutout against the division foe San Francisco Giants. The only hit he allowed was an infield single. The Padres won the game 1-0. After posting a 5.47 ERA through May 1, Latos lowered his ERA down to 2.45 right before the All Star Break, also leading the league in BAA and WHIP (.193 and 0.97 respectively). On July 8, 2010, Latos went seven scoreless innings, 4 hits, and hit his first career home run
.
On September 7, 2010, Latos set a major league record with a 7 inning, 10 strikeout performance in a win against the Dodgers. The victory was Latos' 15th consecutive start logging at least 5 innings and allowing 2 or fewer earned runs, the longest streak in modern baseball history (since 1900) according to Elias Sports Bureau
. Previously the mark had been set by Greg Maddux
(1993–94) and Mike Scott
(1986), who had such streaks lasting 14 starts.. That was Latos' last victory of the 2010 season; he lost his last five starts, culminating with a 3-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants
on October 3 that, combined with an Atlanta Braves
win, eliminated the Padres from playoff contention.
Latos finished the 2010 season with a 14-10 record, 2.92 ERA (13th in the majors), 189 strikeouts (18th), and a WHIP
of 1.09 (T-7th). The San Diego Union-Tribune
attributed his struggles at the end of the year to fatigue, as he pitched innings for the season, more than in 2009.
Latos started 2011 on the disabled list
due to a spring training shoulder injury. He lost his first four starts of the season, extending his losing streak to nine consecutive starts dating back to 2010. The streak tied the longest streak in Padres history, held by Andy Benes
and Dennis Rasmussen
. Latos had a no-decision in his next start after the bullpen blew a save opportunity, preventing him from earning a win. He would lose another decision for a 10-game losing streak that was one shy of the club record held by Gary Ross
. Latos won on May 15 against the Colorado Rockies
to end his losing streak.
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
.
High school and college
Latos attended Coconut Creek High SchoolCoconut Creek High School
Coconut Creek High School is a public high school located in Coconut Creek, Florida located in Broward County, Florida. It is part of the Broward School District.Creek has an FCAT school grade of "D" for the 2010-2011 academic year.- History :...
in Coconut Creek, Florida
Coconut Creek, Florida
Coconut Creek is a city in Broward County, Florida , nestled between Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. It had a population of 52,909 at the 2010 census...
. He was drafted by the Padres in the 11th round (333rd overall) of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft
2006 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 6 and 7. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.-First Round Selections:...
. Although scouts throughout baseball agreed he had first-round talent, he fell in the draft since his personality made him difficult to handle in high school. The Padres didn’t sign him until he spent a year at Broward College where he matured. The Padres paid Latos $1.25 million a few days before he would have re-entered the draft in 2007.
Minor league career
Latos started his pro career at EugeneEugene Emeralds
The Eugene Emeralds is a minor league baseball team in Eugene, Oregon, United States. They are a short-season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been a farm team of the San Diego Padres since 2001....
, the Rookie league farm team for the San Diego Padres, in .
In , Latos spent time in Eugene again, and was promoted to Class A Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne Wizards
The Fort Wayne TinCaps are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the San Diego Padres, that plays in the Midwest League. They won their first Midwest League Championship in 2009.-History:...
.
Latos was invited to the Padres spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in , but suffered a minor ankle sprain. He then started the season in Fort Wayne, and after 4 starts he allowed only 1 run, and was promoted to the Class AA San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
. At San Antonio, Mat had 5 wins and 1 loss, and threw 5 perfect innings in his last start there on July 9.
Latos was selected to play in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
, and threw one scoreless inning. He was promoted to make his major league debut on Sunday, July 19, 2009 against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
San Diego Padres
In his major league debut on July 19, 2009, Latos went 4 innings, allowing 3 hits and 2 runs while striking out 4, in 75 pitches. Latos was the first pitcher in Padres history to win four of his first five career starts.On May 13, 2010, Latos threw a complete game shutout against the division foe San Francisco Giants. The only hit he allowed was an infield single. The Padres won the game 1-0. After posting a 5.47 ERA through May 1, Latos lowered his ERA down to 2.45 right before the All Star Break, also leading the league in BAA and WHIP (.193 and 0.97 respectively). On July 8, 2010, Latos went seven scoreless innings, 4 hits, and hit his first career home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
.
On September 7, 2010, Latos set a major league record with a 7 inning, 10 strikeout performance in a win against the Dodgers. The victory was Latos' 15th consecutive start logging at least 5 innings and allowing 2 or fewer earned runs, the longest streak in modern baseball history (since 1900) according to Elias Sports Bureau
Elias Sports Bureau
The Elias Sports Bureau is an American company that provides historical research and statistical services in the field of professional sports.In 1913, Al Munro Elias and his brother Walter established the Al Munro Elias Bureau in New York City...
. Previously the mark had been set by Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux
Gregory Alan Maddux , nicknamed "Mad Dog" and "The Professor", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years , a feat matched only by Randy Johnson...
(1993–94) and Mike Scott
Mike Scott (baseball)
Michael Warren "Mike" Scott is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets and the Houston Astros. He won the National League Cy Young Award in...
(1986), who had such streaks lasting 14 starts.. That was Latos' last victory of the 2010 season; he lost his last five starts, culminating with a 3-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
on October 3 that, combined with an Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
win, eliminated the Padres from playoff contention.
Latos finished the 2010 season with a 14-10 record, 2.92 ERA (13th in the majors), 189 strikeouts (18th), and a WHIP
Walks plus hits per inning pitched
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base...
of 1.09 (T-7th). The San Diego Union-Tribune
The San Diego Union-Tribune
-Predecessors:The predecessor newspapers of the Union-Tribune were:* San Diego Sun, founded 1861 and merged with the Evening Tribune in 1939.* San Diego Union, founded October 10, 1868.* Evening Tribune, founded December 2, 1895.-Ownership:...
attributed his struggles at the end of the year to fatigue, as he pitched innings for the season, more than in 2009.
Latos started 2011 on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
due to a spring training shoulder injury. He lost his first four starts of the season, extending his losing streak to nine consecutive starts dating back to 2010. The streak tied the longest streak in Padres history, held by Andy Benes
Andy Benes
Andrew Charles Benes is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 14-year career from 1989-2002. Benes played for four different teams: the San Diego Padres, the Seattle Mariners, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arizona Diamondbacks...
and Dennis Rasmussen
Dennis Rasmussen
Dennis Lee Rasmussen is a former starting pitcher for Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres , New York Yankees , Cincinnati Reds , Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals...
. Latos had a no-decision in his next start after the bullpen blew a save opportunity, preventing him from earning a win. He would lose another decision for a 10-game losing streak that was one shy of the club record held by Gary Ross
Gary Ross (baseball)
Gary Douglas Ross is an American former professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1968–1977. He played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, and California Angels. Born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Ross stood tall and weighed .Ross appeared in 283 Major...
. Latos won on May 15 against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
to end his losing streak.