The 2025 Texas Rangers season may be over, but the story of Nathan Eovaldi's remarkable year is just beginning to be told! As we dive into the offseason, we're taking a closer look at every player who graced the major league diamond for the Rangers in 2025. Today, our spotlight shines on the incredible starting pitcher, Nathan Eovaldi.
Just the mention of Nathan Eovaldi's name brings a smile, doesn't it? He's not just a phenomenal pitcher; he's the kind of teammate everyone wishes they had. He's known for his genuine connections with fellow pitchers, offering mentorship, support, and simply being a fantastic presence in the dugout. When Eovaldi steps onto the mound, you can expect him to throw strikes, limit walks, and keep opposing teams' run totals low.
In 2025, at the impressive age of 35, Nathan Eovaldi delivered what was arguably his finest season. While some might hesitate to use the word 'arguably,' it's easy to see why. Although his career-best bWAR of 4.3 was achieved in 2025, he did match that same mark in 2021. His fWAR in 2021 stood at a stellar 5.7, which outshines his 2025 mark of 3.7, still a very strong second-highest of his career. This makes it tempting to want to declare 2025 as his absolute best, but the numbers offer a slightly more nuanced picture.
But here's where it gets interesting: Eovaldi posted an outstanding 1.73 ERA in 2025. He was on track to contend for the ERA title before a rotator cuff strain in late August unfortunately cut his season short. Even with a month missed earlier due to injury, he was likely on pace to reach the 162 innings needed to qualify for the title. Instead, he finished with 130 innings across 22 starts.
We all know Nathan Eovaldi's history with injuries. Since his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers back in 2011, he's only qualified for the ERA title three times. We've come to accept that Eovaldi will likely face injury setbacks and spend time on the injured list each season. However, when he was on the mound in 2025, you could rely on him. He only failed to complete at least five innings on three occasions. One of those instances was a mid-May start where he left early due to injury, landing him on the IL. Another was his first game back from the IL in late June, where he was on a strict pitch count. The third was his second start of the year, where he was removed with two outs in the fifth. Impressively, he pitched at least 6 innings in 14 out of his 22 starts.
And this is the part most people miss: Eovaldi allowed more than three runs in a game just once in 2025. That lone outing was in August against Arizona, where he surrendered five runs on three home runs. In a remarkable 19 out of his 22 appearances, he allowed two earned runs or fewer. His control was also exceptional; he walked more than two hitters in a game only twice, and issued zero or one unintentional walks in 18 starts.
What's even more fascinating is that Eovaldi was a rare 2025 Ranger who performed better on the road! He boasted a 1.39 ERA away from Globe Life Field and a 2.15 ERA at home. His pitching arsenal is a joy to watch, featuring a mix of his splitter, fastball, cutter, and curveball, all thrown at least 20% of the time with excellent results. His occasional sinker is a solid pitch, and while his slider is rarely used and not his strongest offering, it hardly matters given its infrequent deployment.
Initially, I was less than enthusiastic about the Rangers signing Eovaldi during the 2022-23 offseason. Now, my hope is that he retires a Texas Ranger.
What are your thoughts on Nathan Eovaldi's 2025 season? Do you agree that it was his best year, or do the advanced metrics tell a different story? Share your opinions in the comments below!
