Tyler Mahle took the mound for the first time as part of the Texas Rangers organization, starting his rehab stint with Triple-A Round Rock. In his debut, Mahle pitched two scoreless innings, utilizing just 19 pitches, marking his first game action since undergoing Tommy John surgery last May.

The Rangers signed Mahle to a two-year deal worth $22 million in December, with the agreement paying him $5.5 million for 2023 and $16.5 million for 2024. This contract structure took into account Mahle’s expected recovery timeline from surgery, anticipating his return partway through the 2023 season. Mahle’s recovery appears to be on track, raising hopes that he might join the Rangers’ major league roster shortly after the July 30 trade deadline.

Prior to joining Texas, Mahle had been developing into a reliable mid-rotation starter with the Cincinnati Reds. From 2021 to the 2022 trade deadline, he maintained a 3.99 ERA over 52 starts, striking out 27% of batters and walking 8.6%.

His performance earned him a trade to the Minnesota Twins, who exchanged prospects Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Spencer Steer, and Steve Hajjar for him. However, his stint with the Twins was plagued by injuries, including shoulder problems that limited him to just four starts in 2022 and an elbow injury that eventually required season-ending surgery.

The Rangers are counting on Mahle to regain his form as they aim to strengthen their rotation, which has been burdened by injuries to other key starters like Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom. Despite a recent victory over the Padres, Texas trails in their division and in the wildcard race, seven games below .500.

The Rangers’ struggles this season aren’t due to their rotation, which has performed as well as could be expected given the circumstances. The bigger problem has been a lackluster offense, with only Josh Smith significantly exceeding pre-season projections. Although Corey Seager and Rookie of the Year contender Wyatt Langford have improved after slow starts, the team’s offensive output hasn’t met expectations.

With the trade deadline approaching, the Rangers will soon decide whether to sell off assets or attempt to contend for a playoff spot. While Mahle is unlikely to be traded, other upcoming free agents on the roster might be if the team doesn’t improve. Enhancing the bullpen and outfield could be potential areas of focus if the Rangers see a viable path to the postseason.