Ex-Reds pitcher is reviving his career in a way nobody saw coming

When the Cincinnati Reds sent Tyler Mahle to the Minnesota Twins at the 2022 trade deadline, they parted ways with a project they had spent years developing. Mahle, once a bright spot in a bleak Reds rotation, had always shown flashes of dependability.

His pitches had life and he was built to chew innings. But inconsistency, injuries, and the inevitability of Cincinnati’s rebuild rendered him expendable. Now, nearly three years later, the Reds — and maybe even the Twins — might be wondering if they gave up on him too soon.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery in early 2023 and missing over a year of action, Mahle has returned in the 2025 campaign with a vengeance, and the Texas Rangers are the team reaping the benefits.

Is former Reds starter Tyler Mahle turning into the one that got away?

When Mahle signed with the Texas Rangers in December 2023, it was a classic low-risk, high-reward deal for a club with big aspirations and a reputation for betting on reclamation projects. He didn't throw a pitch for the Rangers until August 2024, logging just 12.2 innings in three starts with numbers that didn’t necessarily jump off the page. A 4.97 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. It was a modest debut to say the least, but it was enough to show flashes of his former self.

Still, there were no guarantees. Tommy John recoveries can vary. Some pitchers come back throwing harder. Others never really regain their command. What Mahle has done in 2025 is far more rare. He’s gotten better.

Through his first 12 starts of the 2025 season, Mahle boasts a 5–2 record with a microscopic 1.64 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP proving to not only be serviceable, but elite. For context, Mahle’s career ERA before this season hovered at 4.32, a number that reflected his days of being more “solid” than “spectacular.” This year, he’s been nothing short of dominant.

Mahle is attacking hitters with a level of confidence that was missing in the final years of his Cincinnati tenure. If you’re watching closely, you can see a guy who knows what he’s doing — and trusts himself to do it.

Reds fans might be a bit angry watching Tyler Mahle have success with the Rangers

To be fair, Cincinnati had their reasons to trade him. Mahle was entering arbitration, the Reds were retooling, and his health was a question mark even before his surgery. But if you're a Reds fan watching this version of Mahle mow down lineups in the American League, it stings. He was developed in their system, debuted in their uniform, and now he's hitting his prime in someone else’s colors.

It’s a story as old as baseball, a pitcher finds his true form after leaving his first club. But what makes Mahle’s arc so compelling is that it isn’t a dramatic reinvention. He didn’t add a ton of velocity to his fastball or suddenly discover a wipeout slider. What you’re seeing is a pitcher who simply matured — physically, mentally, and mechanically.

The Rangers are looking to be contenders again, and Mahle is quickly establishing himself as a pivotal part of that plan. If he stays healthy, don’t be surprised if he’s starting a playoff game this October. He might even find himself in the early whispers of Cy Young conversations if his dominance continues.

And if you're the Reds? You have to tip your cap. Sometimes, a guy just needs a fresh start to become what he was always meant to be.

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