A pitcher Revival in Texas Is a Painful Reminder for Cincinnati Reds Fans
When Tyler Mahle took the mound for the Texas Rangers in late 2024, he wasn’t exactly a headline act. Recovering from Tommy John surgery and coming off a string of injury-plagued seasons, Mahle entered the year as a classic low-risk, high-upside signing — a flier by a Rangers front office that’s made a habit of betting wisely on bounce-back arms.
Now, halfway through 2025, that quiet signing is looking like one of the more astute moves of the offseason.
Mahle is pitching with confidence, attacking hitters with a purpose, and stringing together performances that resemble not some reinvented ace, but a polished version of the pitcher he always had the potential to be. The results are there — not just in the box score, but in the eye test. There’s a conviction to Mahle’s sequencing, a sharpness in his command, and a body language that screams belief.
And in Cincinnati, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
A Familiar Story — And a Frustrating One
Mahle’s breakout with the Rangers is a classic baseball tale: a player, homegrown and full of promise, never quite puts it all together with his first team, only to shine in a different uniform. What makes Mahle’s arc so compelling, though, is its subtlety. This isn’t a pitcher who added five miles per hour to his fastball or discovered a devastating new slider. This is the same Mahle — just healthier, wiser, and finally comfortable in his own skin.
For Reds fans, it hurts not because they didn’t see the potential, but because they absolutely did. Mahle was drafted by the Reds in 2013, developed in their system, and debuted in 2017. He showed flashes of brilliance over the years but struggled with consistency and health. By the time he was traded to the Minnesota Twins in 2022, he was entering arbitration and carrying durability concerns. The Reds, in the midst of a rebuild, made the pragmatic decision to move on.
But watching him now — commanding the ball, getting weak contact, and showing signs of being a playoff-caliber starter — is a stark reminder of what could have been.
Texas-Sized Opportunity
To the Rangers’ credit, they saw what Mahle could become. They inked him to a two-year deal in December 2023, fully aware he wouldn’t pitch until late summer. In his brief 2024 return, he logged just 12.2 innings with modest results (4.97 ERA, 1.42 WHIP), but even then, there were signs of life — a smoother delivery, sharper secondary stuff, and most importantly, no hesitation.
Now in 2025, he looks like a different man. Not in form, but in freedom.
Texas, once again pushing for playoff relevance, may have found a key piece in Mahle. If he keeps this up — and stays healthy — he’s more than just a rotation filler. He could be a Game 2 or 3 starter in October. He might even flirt with Cy Young consideration if the stars align.
The One That Got Away
For Cincinnati, Mahle’s success is the kind of quiet heartbreak that fans know too well. His exit wasn’t controversial, and the reasons made sense at the time. But logic doesn’t soften the sting of seeing a homegrown pitcher hit his prime somewhere else — especially when the Reds could use an arm like his right now.
In a way, Mahle’s journey is the perfect example of how timing, patience, and circumstance can define a career. He’s not a new pitcher. He’s just finally become the one he was supposed to be.
And sometimes, that happens when you’re wearing a different jersey.
