Michael Helman

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Michael Helman

|image = Michael Helman 2022.jpg

|caption = Helman with the St. Paul Saints in 2022

|team = Texas Rangers

|number =

|position = Utility player

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|5|23}}

|birth_place = Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = September 3

|debutyear = 2024

|debutteam = Minnesota Twins

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2024 season

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .300

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 0

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 0

|teams =

Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2024}})

}}

Michael James Helman (born May 23, 1996) is an American professional baseball utility player for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins.

Amateur career

Helman attended Pius X High School in Lincoln, Nebraska where he played baseball and basketball. After graduating in 2015, he played two years of college baseball at Hutchinson Community College.{{cite web | url=https://www.hutchnews.com/story/sports/college/baseball/2016/08/04/helman-s-versatility-benefiting-hcc/21007757007/ | title=Helman's versatility benefiting HCC, Monarchs }} As a sophomore in 2017, he batted .487 with 111 hits, 17 home runs, and 73 RBIs over sixty games and was named National Junior College Player of the Year.{{cite web | url=https://fremonttribune.com/sports/college/pius-x-grad-helman-ready-for-bigger-stage/article_40f199d2-8920-5591-a1e0-86356ad114e3.html | title=Pius X grad Helman ready for bigger stage | date=July 5, 2017 }}{{cite web | url=https://journalstar.com/sports/local/college/baseball/pius-x-grad-helman-named-njcaa-player-of-the-year/article_61802e8c-2b63-55b1-acff-fa639904b370.html | title=Pius X grad Helman named NJCAA player of the year | date=June 28, 2017 }} He transferred to Texas A&M University for the 2018 season where he started 62 games and hit .369 with six home runs, 36 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases.{{cite web | url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/minnesota-twins-2018-mlb-draft-pick-capsules | title=Minnesota Twins 2018 MLB draft pick capsules }}{{cite web | url=https://247sports.com/college/texas-am/Article/Michael-Helman-inks-with-Twins-before-deadline-all-Texas-AM-Aggie-MLB-draft-picks-now-signed-119617398/ | title=Helman inks with Twins before deadline; all Aggies now signed }}

Professional career

=Minnesota Twins=

Helman was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 11th round, with the 334th overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web | url=https://www.1011now.com/content/sports/Lincoln-Pius-grad--484797471.html | title=Lincoln Pius grad Michael Helman drafted by Twins | date=June 7, 2018 }} He signed with the Twins and split his first professional season between the rookie–level Elizabethton Twins and Single–A Cedar Rapids Kernels, batting .361 with four home runs over 39 games between the two teams.{{cite web | url=https://www.kbtx.com/content/sports/Helman-signs-with-Twins-ending-AM-baseball-career-487551171.html | title=Helman signs with Twins ending A&M baseball career | date=July 7, 2018 }} He spent the 2019 season with the High–A Fort Myers Miracle where he hit .197 over 82 games, missing the end of the season after breaking his arm.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/news/lewis-larnach-headline-opening-day-roster-305837288 | title=Lewis, Larnach Headline Opening Day Roster }} Helman did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled | title=2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled | website=MLB.com }}

Helman returned to Cedar Rapids for the 2021 season and batted .246 with 19 home runs, 57 RBI, and 21 stolen bases over 111 games.{{cite web | url=https://www.thegazette.com/minor-league-sports/cedar-rapids-kernels-prepared-to-take-on-behemoth-quad-cities/ | title=Cedar Rapids Kernels prepared to take on behemoth Quad Cities }} He opened the 2022 season with the Double–A Wichita Wind Surge before he was promoted to the Triple–A St. Paul Saints.{{cite web | url=https://journalstar.com/sports/high-school/baseball/former-pius-x-star-helman-is-one-step-away-from-the-big-leagues-but-his/article_8230f7cb-276e-51d8-af45-7ec6f105541a.html | title=Former Pius X star Helman is one step away from the big leagues, but his pro journey threw a curve | date=June 11, 2022 }} Over 135 games between the two clubs, he slashed .258/.337/.423 with twenty home runs, sixty RBI, and forty stolen bases.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/player/michael-helman-680737?season=2022&team=1960 | title=Michael Helman Stats, Fantasy & News }} Helman played only 38 games in 2023 due to injury, playing with Fort Myers, Wichita, and St. Paul, batting .302 with seven home runs and forty RBI.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-michael-helman-back-from-injured-list/|title=Twins' Michael Helman: Back from injured list|date=September 5, 2023|website=CBSSports.com}}

Helman began the 2024 campaign with St. Paul, slashing .283/.367/.508 with 13 home runs, 43 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. On September 1, 2024, Helman was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web |last=Deeds |first=Nick |date=2024-09-01 |title=Twins Select Diego Castillo, Michael Helman; Activate Brooks Lee |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/09/twins-select-diego-castillo-michael-helman-activate-brooks-lee.html |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} In 9 games for Minnesota, he went 3-for-10 (.300).

=St. Louis Cardinals=

On February 6, 2025, Helman was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for cash considerations.{{Cite web |last=Franco |first=Anthony |date=2025-02-06 |title=Cardinals Acquire Michael Helman From Twins |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/cardinals-acquire-michael-helman-from-twins.html |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} He was optioned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds to begin the season.{{Cite web|title=Cardinals Option Thomas Saggese and Others to Triple-A|url=https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/cardinals_option_thomas_saggese_and_others_to_triple_a/s1_17353_41914279|access-date=March 19, 2025|website=yardbarker.com|language=en}} In 18 appearances for Memphis, Helman slashed .185/.260/.292 with one home run, five RBI, and one stolen bases.

On May 14, 2025, Helman was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates.{{Cite web|title=Pirates Claim Michael Helman|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/05/pirates-claim-michael-helman.html|access-date=May 14, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} Helman did not appear for the organization before he was designated for assignment on May 16.{{Cite web|title=Pirates Select Nick Solak|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/05/pirates-select-nick-solak.html|access-date=May 23, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

=Texas Rangers=

On May 19, 2025, Helman was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers.{{Cite web|title=Rangers Claim Michael Helman, Designate Jonathan Ornelas|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/05/rangers-claim-michael-helman-designate-jonathan-ornelas.html|access-date=May 27, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

Personal life

Helman's cousin, Joel Makovicka, played in the NFL.{{cite web | url=https://12thman.com/sports/baseball/roster/michael-helman/5180 | title=Michael Helman – Baseball }}