Patrick Corbin's resurgence anchors Rangers' rotation

While the Texas Rangers’ rotation is turning heads across baseball with its dominant start to the 2025 season, one arm is making a case for the comeback story of the year, even if he’s not stealing the headlines. Patrick Corbin, the 35-year-old left-hander who signed just before Opening Day, is proving that he’s not just back — he’s better.

Corbin’s resurgence is built on command, strategy and execution. He’s posted a 3.35 ERA through his first seven starts, holding his own in a rotation that includes household names like Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Tyler Mahle — all with sub-3.00 ERAs. Yet Corbin, the so-called “fourth starter,” has quietly been equally important.

His latest outing — six innings, nine strikeouts, three earned runs against the struggling Colorado Rockies — was another chapter in a compelling comeback. It wasn’t just the results; it was how he got there. Corbin struck out six in a row at one point and pounded the zone with purpose. His velocity is up, his movement is sharper and his pitch mix is more refined than in years.

Take his sinker: averaging 92 mph, it’s up over a whole tick from last season. His longtime bread-and-butter slider averaged 80.2 mph with 2255 RPM spin, and he’s locating it with far more precision. Even his newer addition cutter is showing bite and effectiveness, sitting at 87.2 mph with late movement. Every pitch in his arsenal is performing above its 2024 averages, and that bump in quality shows up in the results.

“I feel like the movement and velocity are the same,” Corbin said, “but I’m locating better, throwing better pitches in better counts and sticking to a game plan.”

This isn’t just veteran savvy. It’s a measurable, mechanical improvement from a pitcher who had fallen off hard after his All-Star days with the Nationals. Corbin’s last few seasons had many wondering if he’d seen his final chapter — but Texas took a flier on him, and he’s turned it into a value gem.

Manager Bruce Bochy sees it, even if fans are still catching up. “He’s done a terrific job since we got him,” Bochy said. “He’s got pitchability, he uses the sinker in and out, he’s got a feel for offspeed. He knows how to pitch.”

And Corbin is doing it in a thriving rotation. Texas starters have a 3.00 ERA and are second-best in the AL, behind only the Mets and Royals. Their .218 opponents’ batting average is nearly league-best. In that context, Corbin’s 2.89 ERA over his last three starts is even more impressive, especially given that two games came against quality competition.

There’s no asterisk on his comeback. He’s not just eating innings — he’s keeping the Rangers in games, neutralizing opposing lineups and giving this staff the depth it needs to contend. He may be the “quiet” success story behind the Texas rotation, but make no mistake: Corbin is back, and his stuff is speaking loudly.