Mat Latos

Early life

Latos is the only child born to Lisa and Rich Latos. He is originally from Alexandria, Virginia. When Latos was 12 years old, his grandfather insisted that he play in a baseball tournament rather than stay at his bedside the day he died.

High school and college

Latos attended Coconut Creek High School in Coconut Creek, Florida, despite being recruited to attend high schools with more prestigious baseball programs. He was named the ace starting pitcher of the Coconut Creek baseball team's as a freshman. That year, he pitched to a 3–4 win–loss record and a 3.68 earned run average (ERA), with 41 strikeouts and 26 walks in  39 ²⁄₃ innings pitched. His fastball reached 88 to 89 miles per hour (142–143 km/h). He improved his fastball command and velocity as a sophomore, reaching 93 miles per hour (150 km/h) and his statistics improved to a 5–2 record, a 1.23 ERA, 89 strikeouts, and 21 walks in 68 innings.

Heading into his junior year, Latos improved his training regimen and diet. He pitched to a 7–4 record with a 0.76 ERA as a junior with 128 strikeouts and 17 walks in 83 innings. Eleven of his thirteen starts were complete games. Coconut Creek reached the regional quarterfinals, and Latos was named an Aflac All-American and All-Broward County by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and Miami Herald. By his senior year, Latos could throw his fastball as high as 98 miles per hour (158 km/h). He was an honorable mention by the Florida Sports Writers Association for the All-State team. As a senior, Latos had a 7–3 record with 110 strikeouts and a 0.64 ERA in  69 ²⁄₃ innings pitched. He appeared in the Broward County Athletics Association All-Star Game, and was named South Florida Sun-Sentinel's player of the year.

Latos committed to attend the University of Oklahoma to play college baseball for the Oklahoma Sooners baseball team. However, many scouts expected Latos to be a first-round pick in the 2006 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft. SchoolSports.com ranked Latos the fifth best high school pitcher available in the 2006 Major League Baseball draft. The San Diego Padres selected Latos in the 11th round (333rd overall). He fell in the draft since his personality made him difficult to handle in high school, as he was considered immature, and often yelled at teammates who made errors and reacted poorly when the umpire made a call he disagreed with.

After the draft, Latos demanded a $3 million signing bonus from the Padres. When the Padres did not meet his demands, Latos enrolled at Broward College, a junior college, to pitch for their baseball team. As the Padres retained the right to sign Latos until the start of the 2007 MLB draft, the Padres sent scout Joe Bochy to observe every start Latos made. Latos had a 10–3 win–loss record and a 2.03 ERA. Feeling that Latos was worth the gamble, the Padres paid Latos $1.25 million a few days before he would have re-entered the draft in 2007.

Minor leagues

Latos started his professional career in minor league baseball with the Eugene Emeralds, the Padres' Class A-Short Season affiliate in the Northwest League, in 2007. Pitching in 16 games for Eugene, Latos had a 1–4 record and a 3.83 ERA. In 2008, Latos started the season with the Fort Wayne Wizards of the Class A Midwest League, but missed playing time during the season due to abdominal and shoulder injuries.

The Padres invited Latos to spring training in 2009, but he suffered a minor ankle sprain that limited his appearances. Latos started the 2009 season in Fort Wayne, and allowed only one run in four starts. He was then promoted to the San Antonio Missions of the Class AA Texas League. At San Antonio, Latos had a 5–1 win–loss record, and threw five perfect innings in his last start for San Antonio on July 9. Between Fort Wayne and San Antonio, Latos had an 8–1 record, a 1.38 ERA, 73 strikeouts, and a .168 batting average against (BAA). The Padres named Latos their Padres Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May. Latos was selected to play in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game, and threw one scoreless inning.

San Diego Padres

The Padres promoted Latos to make his major league debut on July 19, 2009, against the Colorado Rockies. In his major league debut, Latos pitched four innings, allowing three hits and two runs while striking out four, while throwing 75 pitches. He recorded his first major league win on July 24. Latos became the first pitcher in Padres history to win four of his first five career starts. Latos made ten starts for the Padres in 2009, pitching to a 4–5 record and a 4.68 ERA.

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 September 7, 2010, Latos set a major league record with a seven–inning, 10–strikeout performance in a win against the Dodgers. The victory was Latos' 15th consecutive start logging at least five innings and allowing two or fewer earned runs, which was at the time the longest streak in modern baseball history (since 1900) according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The record would be broken by Félix Hernández, who recorded 17 such straight outings during the 2014 season. Previously the mark had been set by Greg Maddux (1993–94) and Mike Scott (1986), who had such streaks lasting 14 starts. On the season, Latos pitched to a 14–10 win–loss record in 31 games started, with a 2.92 (ERA), 1.08 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP), and 189 strikeouts in  184 ²⁄₃ innings pitched. He placed eighth in voting for the National League Cy Young Award.

However, Latos lost his last five starts of the 2010 season, 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. The San Diego Union-Tribune attributed his struggles at the end of the year to fatigue, as his  189 ²⁄₃ innings for the season were  66 ²⁄₃ more than he pitched 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 lost another decision for a 10-game losing streak that was one less than the club record held by Gary Ross. Latos won on May 15 against the Colorado Rockies to end his losing streak. He ended the 2011 season with a 9–14 record and a 3.47 ERA.

Cincinnati Reds

After the 2011 season, the Cincinnati Reds were looking for another frontline starter to pair with Johnny Cueto in their starting rotation. On December 17, 2011, the Padres traded Latos to the Reds in exchange for prospects Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal, and Brad Boxberger, along with veteran starting pitcher Edinson Vólquez.

In the last week of June 2012, Latos pitched two complete games. He was named the National League Player of the Week for the week ending July 1. Latos finished the 2012 season with a 14–4 win–loss record a 3.48 ERA. The Reds reached the playoffs, and faced the San Francisco Giants in the 2012 National League Division Series (NLDS). On October 11, 2012, Latos gave up a grand slam to Buster Posey in a 6-run top of the fifth inning in the elimination game of the NLDS. Latos took the loss in this game, as the Reds were eliminated.

The Reds signed Latos to a two-year contract worth $11.5 million for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Latos had a 21-game streak without a loss, extending from August 2012 to June 2013. He finished the 2013 season with a 14–7 win–loss record and a 3.16 ERA in  210 ²⁄₃ innings pitched. Though he suffered an abdominal strain on June 30, he continued to pitch without missing any starts. He revealed the injury after a poor outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates in September. The Reds reached the 2013 National League Wild Card Game, opposing Pittsburgh. Reds' manager Dusty Baker wanted to start Latos for that game, but a bone spur in his elbow prevented him from being available. Baker chose Cueto as his starter. The Reds lost the game, ending their season.

Latos had surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow during the offseason. During spring training in 2014, Latos tore cartilage in his left knee, which was repaired with surgery. His knee had not fully recovered in time for Opening Day of the 2014 season, which he started on the disabled list. He began a rehabilitation assignment with the Louisville Bats of the Class AAA International League on May 26, and made his 2014 season debut with the Reds on June 14. Latos said that he came back at "80–90 percent" effectiveness due to his desire to help his team, but experienced setbacks with his knee during the season. He averaged 90.7 miles per hour (146.0 km/h) on his fastball, down from 92.5 miles per hour (148.9 km/h) during the 2013 season. His last start came on September 7, as he suffered a bone bruise on the elbow of his pitching arm. His 2014 season ended with a 5–5 record and a 3.25 ERA in 16 starts.

Miami Marlins

With the goal of reducing their payroll, and with Latos eligible for free agency after the 2015 season, the Reds traded Latos to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Anthony DeSclafani and Chad Wallach during the 2014 Winter Meetings. Latos sought a $10.4 million salary for the 2015 season in salary arbitration, but the arbiters sided with the Marlins, who proposed a salary of $9.4 million.

Latos had 90 cubic centimetres (5.5 cu in) of fluid drained from his left knee during spring training. He allowed seven runs in  ²⁄₃ of an inning in his first start for Miami, and struggled through knee pain through May. He went on the disabled list after his May 21 start to rest his knee, and returned in mid-June. Latos missed a start in July after a foul ball struck him in his foot while he was sitting in the dugout.

Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels

On July 30, 2015, in a three-team trade, the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Latos, Michael Morse, Bronson Arroyo, Alex Wood, Jim Johnson, Luis Avilán, and José Peraza, while the Marlins acquired minor league pitchers Victor Araujo, Jake Brigham, and Kevin Guzman, while the Atlanta Braves received Héctor Olivera, Paco Rodriguez, minor league pitcher Zachary Bird, and a competitive balance draft pick for the 2016 MLB draft. He pitched to a 6.66 ERA in  24 ¹⁄₃ innings. He lost his starting job due to his poor performance and was designated for assignment on September 17. The Dodgers released Latos on September 25.

On September 28, 2015, Latos signed a contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim that would allow him to pitch the last week of the season for them. Latos was not eligible to pitch for the Angels in the postseason. He made his first appearance for the Angels as a relief pitcher on September 29. Latos had a 4.91 ERA in  3 ²⁄₃ innings pitched for the Angels.

Chicago White Sox

Latos signed a one-year contract worth $3 million with the Chicago White Sox prior to the 2016 season. Latos pitched to a 0.74 ERA in his first four starts for the White Sox, but then struggled, allowing 29 earned runs in his next 36 innings pitched (7.25 ERA) after April 30. After acquiring James Shields, the White Sox designated Latos for assignment on June 9.

Washington Nationals

Latos signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals on June 29. After making three appearances for the Gulf Coast Nationals of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, the Nationals assigned Latos to the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League. He made his Nationals debut on September 4, 2016, against the Mets. He pitched  9 ²⁄₃ innings for the Nationals, recording a 6.52 ERA.

Toronto Blue Jays

On February 16, 2017, Latos signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. After not winning a spot on the Blue Jays' roster in spring training, Latos accepted an assignment to the Buffalo Bisons of the International League. He made two starts for the Bisons, pitching to a 1.00 ERA in nine innings, and the Blue Jays promoted Latos to the major leagues on April 21 after injuries to the team's starting rotation. Latos started three games for the Blue Jays, pitching to a 6.60 ERA and 1.80 WHIP. The Blue Jays designated Latos for assignment on May 5, and outrighted him back to Buffalo on May 8. He was released on May 30.

Pitching style

Latos throws five pitches. He throws a four-seam fastball (91 to 96 miles per hour (146 to 154 km/h)), a two-seam fastball (90 to 94 miles per hour (145 to 151 km/h)), a slider (84 to 87 miles per hour (135 to 140 km/h)), a curveball (78 to 82 miles per hour (126 to 132 km/h)), and a changeup (82 to 85 miles per hour (132 to 137 km/h)). He mostly relies on his four-seamer and slider against right-handed hitters while adding considerable variety against lefties. The 42% whiff rate on his slider is one of the best among major league starters.

Latos is 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) tall and uses an over-the-top delivery. Latos has one of the highest delivery points in baseball. Latos has compiled good strikeout totals in his career as a starter, finishing in the NL's top 10 in strikeouts per 9 innings pitched rate twice.

Personal life

Latos married in 2010 but is currently separated, with he and his wife living in different states. He and his wife, Dallas, met through her then-roommate and Mat's friend, a minor league baseball player, who were dating. Mat and Dallas participated in the NOH8 Campaign in 2013. The couple own a cat, named Cat Latos. They purchased a home in Indian Hill, Ohio, in 2013. They had their first child, a son named Landon Marshall Latos, in August 2014.

Latos honors his grandfather by writing his initials on the pitching mound and with a tattoo of his grandfather's initials. He enjoys drawing, especially airbrushing, and stated a desire to work on tattoos. Latos has many tattoos, and was described by Tim Sullivan of the San Diego Union-Tribune as "the righthanded tattoo canvas."