Ex-Reds starter's newfound success with Rangers will baffle (and delight) Cincy fans

Tyler Mahle's time in a Cincinnati Reds uniform was always centered around "what if?". What if he had stayed healthy? What if he had fulfilled his true potential? And for some, what if he had never been traded?

Mahle was part of a trade with the Minnesota Twins in 2022. The right-hander was shipped to the Land of 10,000 Lakes in exchange for a package of prospects that included Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Spencer Steer. But Mahle's time in the Twin Cities was defined by injury. He made just four starts in 2022, then suffered an elbow injury shortly after the 2023 season began. The injury required Tommy John surgery which effectively ended his Twins career.

Mahle signed a two-year deal with the Texas Rangers during the following offseason, but missed almost all of his first year in Arlington while recovering from surgery and dealing with other nagging injuries. But the right-hander has returned with a vengeance in 2025 and is making the teams that passed on him in free agency regret it.

Tyler Mahle's newfound success with Rangers will baffle (and delight) Reds fans

Mahle has made five starts for the Rangers in 2025, and as of Wednesday, had the lowest ERA among all qualified starting pitchers in MLB. Mahle has a sparkling 0.68 ERA though 26 ⅔ innings pitched. The strikeout numbers aren't what they once were, but his 8.4 K/9 is more than enough to get the job done.

But Mahle's velocity is nowhere what Reds fans remember from his time in Cincinnati. The right-hander's heater historically sat in the neighborhood of about 94 mph, but this season with Texas, Mahle's velocity is sitting just below 92 mph. But Mahle is doing what Reds fans saw him do for several seasons; he's inducing weak contract.

Mahle's also dominating left-handed hitters. The 30-year-old has shutdown lefties to the tune of a pathetic .049/.152/.073 slash line. Mahle has also handled batters the third time through the order—something he struggled with in Cincinnati— allowing a meager .170 OPS.

Mahle was always well liked during his tenure with the Reds. While not necessary what you'd deem a fan-favorite, Mahle was an easy player to root for. A former seventh-round draft pick out of high school in 2013, Mahle steadily worked his way up through the Reds farm system until he finally achieved his dream of becoming a big leaguer.

Though he's no longer suiting up in Cincinnati, Reds fans can surely appreciate his long road back and couldn't happier to see him find success once again.

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