After having elbow surgery not that long ago, Tyler Mahle is getting better at throwing. He is doing sets of 25 throws from 60 feet away as of this week, which is his fifth week. Though there are encouraging indicators, he still has a ways to go before returning to the mound and supporting the Rangers.

Mahle anticipates helping the Rangers in 2024 after agreeing to a two-year, $22 million contract last week. He thinks he will return and play well in the second half of this season. Given Mahle’s prior success, the Rangers will be getting tremendous value if he can accomplish this. He finished the 2021–2022 season with a pitching WAR of 6.0, which placed him 24th out of all MLB pitchers, according to Fangraphs.

Mahle might be another good signing for the Rangers, who have had success in the past identifying value in the middle tier of free agency. Mahle was impressed that they contacted him early in the offseason and expressed interest in him prior to the 2022 trade deadline. In the end, he decided on the Rangers because of their long-term objectives and dedication to winning.

It’s crucial to remember, though, that recovering from Tommy John’s surgery takes time. In their second year following surgery, pitchers frequently regain control and get over their timidity. Mahle’s injury occurred during one of his five starts for Minnesota in 2023, so it will be imperative that he gets back his confidence and pitches the ball well.

Mahle’s four-seam fastball, which has ordinary velocity but plays up because of his remarkable arm extension, is his main weapon. Throughout his career, this pitch has been a vital component of his toolkit. Mahle will also need to concentrate on the finishing of the delivery since pitchers frequently struggle with it following Tommy John surgery.

Mahle has high hopes for his comeback, but obstacles remain in his way since his recuperation is still underway. The Rangers are optimistic that he will contribute significantly to the squad in the future since they see potential in him.