Jeremy Hellickson

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Jeremy Hellickson

| image = Jeremy Hellickson May 3, 2018 (50121476992) (cropped).jpg

| image_size =250px

| caption = Hellickson with the Washington Nationals in 2018

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1987|4|8}}

| birth_place = Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = August 2

| debutyear = 2010

| debutteam = Tampa Bay Rays

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = May 19

| finalyear = 2019

| finalteam = Washington Nationals

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 76–75

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 4.13

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 929

| teams =

Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2010}}–{{mlby|2014}})
Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2015}})
Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|2016}}–{{mlby|2017}})
Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|2017}})
Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2018}}–{{mlby|2019}})

| awards =

AL Rookie of the Year (2011)
Gold Glove Award (2012)

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry | {{bb|USA}}}}

}}

Jeremy Robert Hellickson (born April 8, 1987) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, and Washington Nationals. Following the 2011 season, Hellickson was named American League Rookie of the Year. In Tampa Bay, Hellickson was nicknamed "Hellboy" by local fans and media.{{cite web|url=http://www.620wdae.com/onair/home-of-the-rays-43034/hellboy-rays-down-boston-62-11410434|title=Hellboy, Rays Down Boston 6-2|date=June 19, 2013|publisher=WDAE|work=620wdae.com|access-date=May 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715080509/http://www.620wdae.com/onair/home-of-the-rays-43034/hellboy-rays-down-boston-62-11410434|archive-date=July 15, 2015|url-status=dead}}

Early life

Hellickson was born in Des Moines, Iowa and attended Hoover High School.{{cite web|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100802/SPORTS/100802021 |title=Jeremy Hellickson wins major-league debut, heads back to minors |publisher=Desmoinesregister.com |access-date=August 22, 2010}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

Professional career

=Minor leagues=

Hellickson was drafted by Tampa Bay in the fourth round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft. Baseball America rated him as the 18th best prospect in all of baseball going into the 2010 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/2010/269554.html |title=Baseball America Top 100 Prospects |publisher=Baseballamerica.com |date=February 23, 2010 |access-date=August 22, 2010}} He was selected to play in the 2010 All-Star Futures Game and was the starting pitcher for U.S. team.{{cite web |first=Rhett |last=Bollinger |url=http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100711&content_id=12213372&vkey=news_tb&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb |title=Hellickson shines as Futures Game's winner |work=MLB.com |date=July 11, 2010 |access-date=August 22, 2010 |archive-date=March 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325034757/http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100711&content_id=12213372&vkey=news_tb&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb |url-status=dead }}

=Tampa Bay Rays=

On August 2, 2010, Hellickson made his major league debut against Minnesota Twins.{{cite news|first=Adam |last=Berry |url=http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100731&content_id=12882474&vkey=news_tb&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310052727/http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100731&content_id=12882474&vkey=news_tb&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 10, 2012 |title=Hellickson to make debut on Monday |work=MLB.com |date=July 31, 2010 |access-date=August 22, 2010}} During his debut, he held the Twins to two runs over seven innings. He struck out six while walking two. He was optioned back to the Triple-A Durham Bulls after the start.{{cite news|first=Bill |last=Chastain |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100802&content_id=12936656¬ebook_id=12956490&vkey=notebook_tb&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb |title=Rays call up Johnson, option Hellickson |work=MLB.com |date=August 2, 2010 |access-date=August 22, 2010}} He was once again recalled to the majors on August 10 to take the spot of Wade Davis in the rotation. He made his second career start that day against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, earning his second career victory after pitching seven shutout innings with three hits, seven strikeouts and no walks as the Rays won 8–0.{{cite news|first=Bill |last=Chastain |url=http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100810&content_id=13274444&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325001752/http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100810&content_id=13274444&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 25, 2012 |title=Hellickson's seven scoreless tame Tigers |work=MLB.com |date=August 10, 2010 |access-date=August 22, 2010}}

On August 21, 2010, Hellickson was optioned to the High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs to work on moving to the bullpen. He was recalled to Tampa Bay on September 1, and made his first appearance out of the bullpen on September 4, pitching 1{{fraction|2|3}} innings giving up 2 runs.

File:Jeremy Hellickson on June 10, 2011.jpg]]

Hellickson began the 2011 season as the Rays fifth starter. On May 13, he threw his first complete game, earning a 3–0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.{{cite web|last=Klemish|first=Dawn|title=Hellickson wins battle of Jeremys|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_05_13_balmlb_tbamlb_1|work=MLB.com}} Following the season, Hellickson earned the 2011 American League MLB Rookie of the Year Award.Nowak, Joey. [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111114&content_id=25967116&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb Kimbrel, Hellickson take top rookie awards], MLB.com. Published November 14, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2011. He was named the Rays third starter for the 2012 season and pitched 8{{fraction|2|3}} shutout innings against the New York Yankees on April 8, 2012.

Hellickson was the losing pitcher in Félix Hernández's perfect game on August 15, 2012. He still had a quality start in the game, allowing one run and five hits over seven innings to the Seattle Mariners.{{cite web| url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=320815112 | title=Tampa Bay Rays vs. Seattle Mariners – Box Score – August 15, 2012| work=ESPN.com | access-date=August 15, 2012}}

Hellickson was optioned to Charlotte on August 27. He was recalled from the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits on September 3 after the major league rosters expanded. He did not pitch for either minor league team.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=hellic001jer |title=Jeremy Hellickson: Minor League Statistics & History |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 25, 2015}}

He was named co-winner with Jake Peavy, then with the Chicago White Sox, of the American League Rawlings Gold Glove for 2012.

File:Jeremy Hellickson 2013.jpg]]

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

On November 14, 2014, the Rays traded Hellickson to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Andrew Velazquez and Justin Williams.{{cite news|last1=Gilbert|first1=Steve|title=D-backs land Hellickson for two prospects|url=http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/101503536/arizona-diamondbacks-trade-for-jeremy-hellickson-from-tampa-bay-rays|access-date=November 15, 2014|date=November 14, 2014}} He signed a one-year deal worth $4.275 million on January 16, 2015, and avoided arbitration.{{cite news|title=Hellickson, Diamondbacks agree at $4,275,000|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=12179321|access-date=January 17, 2015|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=January 16, 2015}} In 27 starts, he finished 9–12 with an ERA of 4.62 in 146 innings.

=Philadelphia Phillies=

On November 14, 2015, Hellickson was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league pitcher Sam McWilliams.{{cite web|url=http://m.phillies.mlb.com/news/article/157308286/phillies-trade-for-jeremy-hellickson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117021052/http://m.phillies.mlb.com/news/article/157308286/phillies-trade-for-jeremy-hellickson|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 17, 2015|title=Phillies land Hellickson in deal with D-backs|last=Zolecki|first=Todd|work=MLB.com|date=November 14, 2015|access-date=November 14, 2015}} On January 15, 2016, Hellickson signed a one-year deal for $7 million avoiding arbitration.{{Cite news|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/phillies/Phillies-sign-Jeanmar-Gomez.html|title=Phillies avoid arbitration with Jeremy Hellickson, Jeanmar Gomez|last=Gelb|first=Matt|date=January 18, 2016|work=Philly.com|access-date=April 7, 2017}} Hellickson started for the Phillies on Opening Day.{{Cite news|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20160404_Phillies__Hellickson_will_make_first_opening-day_start.html|title=Phillies' Hellickson will make first opening-day start|last=Narducci|first=Marc|date=April 3, 2016|work=Philly.com|access-date=April 7, 2017}} The Phillies extended Hellickson a qualifying offer worth $17.2 million for the 2017 season, which he accepted.{{cite web|url=http://m.phillies.mlb.com/news/article/208831848/jeremy-hellickson-accepts-phillies-qo/|title=Hellickson accepts Phils' qualifying offer|last=Zolecki|first=Todd|work=MLB.com|date=November 14, 2016|access-date=November 14, 2016|archive-date=November 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115123804/http://m.phillies.mlb.com/news/article/208831848/jeremy-hellickson-accepts-phillies-qo/|url-status=dead}}

On April 3, 2017, Hellickson was the starting pitcher against the Cincinnati Reds on Opening Day. He hit his first-career triple, the first pitcher to hit a triple in the season opener since San Francisco Giants' Jack Sanford in 1963.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/222201912/opening-day-interesting-things|title=The most interesting thing from each Opening Day game.|last=Corcoran|first=Cliff|date=April 3, 2017|work=Sports on Earth|access-date=April 7, 2017|language=en|archive-date=April 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413111339/http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/222201912/opening-day-interesting-things|url-status=dead}} He pitched five innings earning the win, allowing one run and six hits. He left early because of running the triple.{{Cite web|url=http://madisoncourier.com/Content/Sports/Sports/Article/Phillies-top-Reds-4-3-in-17-opener/18/289/102509|title=Phillies top Reds 4-3 in '17 opener - Madison Courier|last=Kay|first=Joe|date=April 4, 2017|website=Madison Courier|language=en-us|access-date=April 7, 2017}}

=Baltimore Orioles=

On July 28, 2017, the Phillies traded Hellickson to the Baltimore Orioles for Hyun-soo Kim and Garrett Cleavinger.{{Cite web |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bs-sp-orioles-hellickson-trade-phillies-20170728-story.html |title=Orioles acquire right-hander Jeremy Hellickson from Phillies for Hyun Soo Kim, more - Baltimore Sun |access-date=July 29, 2017 |archive-date=July 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729102329/http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bs-sp-orioles-hellickson-trade-phillies-20170728-story.html |url-status=dead }}

In his first start as an Oriole, Hellickson threw seven shutout innings against the Royals, striking out three batters while earning the win in a 6–0 victory. Despite that hot start, Hellickson struggled down the stretch, posting a 5.43 ERA over 30 starts over the course of the season. For the 2017 season, between the two teams he led the majors in giving up the most home runs per nine innings (1.92).[https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2017&month=0&season1=2017&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=11,d Major League Leaderboards » 2017 » Pitchers » Dashboard | FanGraphs Baseball] He became a free agent following the conclusion of the season.{{cite news|url=http://www.masnsports.com/nationals-pastime/2018/03/does-hellickson-signing-address-nationals-rotation-need.html|agency=MASN Sports|title=Does Hellickson signing address Nationals' rotation need?|first=Jeremy|last=Hellickson|date=March 17, 2018|access-date=March 17, 2018}}

=Washington Nationals=

On March 17, 2018, Hellickson signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals that included an invitation to major league spring training.{{cite news|url=https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/jeremy-hellickson-nats-agree-on-minors-deal/c-268910538|agency=MLB.com|title= Nats, Hellickson agree to Minors deal|first=Jamal|last=Collier|date=March 17, 2018|access-date=March 17, 2018}} His contract was selected on April 16 for a start against the New York Mets at Citi Field. In his Nationals debut, Hellickson worked into the fifth inning while giving up two runs, taking a no-decision as his team rallied in the eighth inning to win 8–6.{{cite news|url=http://www.masnsports.com/byron-kerr/2018/04/bryce-harpers-broken-bat-homer-one-for-the-ages-games-tied-1-1.html|agency=MASN Sports|title=Harper's broken bat homer one for the ages (Nats comeback win 8-6)|date=April 16, 2018|access-date=April 16, 2018|first=Byron|last=Kerr}} He earned his first Nationals win on May 8, 2018, at PETCO Park, taking a perfect game bid into the seventh inning and allowing no runs in the two-hit outing, striking out eight San Diego Padres in the process.{{cite news|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jeremy-hellickson-flirts-with-no-hitter-in-win/c-275851086|agency=MLB.com|title=Hellickson's perfecto bid has Nats on 9-1 run|date=May 8, 2018|access-date=May 8, 2018|last=Collier|first=Jamal}} He began his tenure with Washington going 2–0 with a 2.28 ERA before landing on the disabled list with a hamstring strain.[http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23707280/washington-nationals-put-jeremy-hellickson-dl-hamstring-strain Washington Nationals put Jeremy Hellickson on DL with hamstring strain] He ended the season with a 5–3 record in {{frac|91|1|3}} innings.

On February 8, 2019, Hellickson re-signed with the Nationals, inking a one-year, $1.3 million contract with up to $4 million in incentives.{{cite web|last1=Collier|first1=Jamal|title=Hellickson heads back to Nationals|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jeremy-hellickson-returns-to-nationals/c-303590990?tid=282421090|website=MLB.com|publisher=MLB|date=February 8, 2019|access-date=February 9, 2019}} In 9 appearances (8 starts) Hellickson went 2–3 with a 6.23 ERA before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. The Nationals finished the 2019 year with a 93–69 record, clinching a wild card spot, and eventually went on to win the 2019 World Series over the Houston Astros, their first championship in franchise history. Although Hellickson did not participate in any postseason action, he won his first World Series championship.{{cite web |title=Washington Nationals win 2019 World Series |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/nationals-win-2019-world-series |publisher=MLB |access-date=October 31, 2019}}

Hellickson retired from baseball on February 14, 2020, after experiencing a shoulder setback prior to spring training.{{cite web |last1=Birch |first1=Tommy |title=Des Moines' Jeremy Hellickson retires from Major League Baseball |website=The Des Moines Register |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/2020/02/14/des-moines-jeremy-hellickson-retires-major-league-baseball/4761054002/}}

Achievements

2009 Triple-A Baseball National Championship Most Valuable Player
Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Award, 2010
International League Most Valuable Pitcher, 2010
USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Award, 2010
American League Rookie of the Month – May 2011{{cite news |url=http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-jeremy-hellickson-earns-rare-monthly-awards-double/1173357 |first=Marc |last=Topkin |title=Tampa Bay Rays' Jeremy Hellickson earns rare monthly awards double |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=May 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525203553/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-jeremy-hellickson-earns-rare-monthly-awards-double/1173357 |archive-date=May 25, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
American League Pitcher of the Month – May 2011
American League Rookie of the Year Award, 2011
2019 World Series champion

Personal life

Hellickson and his wife Natalie reside in West Des Moines, Iowa.{{cite web | url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/baseball/2020/02/26/jeremy-hellickson-major-league-baseball-tampa-bay-rays-washington-nationals-philadelphia-phillies/4859074002/ | title=What's next for des Moines native Jeremy Hellickson after retirement? | website=The Des Moines Register }}{{cite web | last=Wilson | first=Adam | title=Photos: Jeremy Hellickson through the years | website=The Des Moines Register | date=2013-11-20 | url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/picture-gallery/sports/baseball/2013/11/20/photos-jeremy-hellickson-through-the-years/3656325/ | access-date=2025-01-26}}