Latos regrets harsh comments on return to Cincinnati

Published 8:40 pm Friday, June 19, 2015

CINCINNATI (AP) — Mat Latos was glad to be back in Cincinnati, even though he won’t take the mound during a weekend series against the team that traded him away in the offseason.

And he now regrets his harsh parting comments.

Latos isn’t scheduled to pitch during Miami’s three-game series at Great American Ball Park. Latos’ house in Cincinnati is on the market, and he got to sleep there after the team arrived early Friday morning.

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He had no plans for the weekend in the city where he spent three seasons.

“I have zero plans, honestly,” he said. “Maybe have some friends over and just hang out at the house. Short-lived. I want to go home and fish on the boat.”

The Reds dealt Latos to the Marlins last December for starter Anthony DeSclafani and catcher Chad Wallach. In an interview with Fox Sports during spring training, Latos said the Reds had rushed him back from injury in 2014 and that their clubhouse lacked leadership. The Reds took exception.

“It’s done and over with, really,” Latos said Friday. “There was some stuff that I said that really shouldn’t have come out of my mouth. You just take it in stride and do what you’ve got to do.”

Reds manager Bryan Price didn’t want to rehash it, either.

“I’m not going to get into any of the spring training stuff,” Price said. “We wish Mat well. I’d like to put that stuff behind us. He’s with the Marlins now. There’s no ill will.”

Latos was disappointed that he wouldn’t get to pitch at Great American Ball Park, where he learned the importance of keeping the ball down. It’s one of the most homer-friendly parks in the majors.

“I got to learn how to pitch here,” Latos said. “When I was in San Diego, I would just rear back and throw it. Here you can’t do that. So that’s one of the good things I got to take away from this ballpark.”

Latos is 2-4 with a 5.37 ERA in 11 starts. He has missed time with a swollen left knee, but says he is healthy now.

“I feel great,” he said. “Arm feels great. Knee feels great. The body feels great. The mind feels great.”

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