Ryan Helsley

Ryan Dalton Helsley (born July 18, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2019.

Ryan Helsley
St. Louis Cardinals – No. 56
Pitcher
Born: (1994-07-18) July 18, 1994
Tahlequah, Oklahoma, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 16, 2019, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record21–10
Earned run average2.83
Strikeouts235
Saves35
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Born and raised in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Helsley played two years of college baseball at Northeastern State University before he was selected by the Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB draft. He played in their minor league system before making his debut in 2019. He broke out in 2022 while serving as the team's closer and was named an All-Star.

Amateur career

Helsley attended Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah, Oklahoma,[1] where he played baseball, basketball, and football along with running track.[2] Undrafted out of high school in the 2013 MLB draft, he enrolled at Northeastern State University where he played college baseball.[3] In 2014, as a freshman, he went 7–4 with a 4.60 ERA in 14 games (nine starts) and was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year.[4] As a sophomore, he pitched to a 14–8 record and 4.06 ERA in 126+1⁄3 innings pitched.[5] After his sophomore season, he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB draft and he signed.[6][5]

Professional career

After signing, Helsley made his professional debut with the Johnson City Cardinals and spent all of 2015 there, posting a 2.01 ERA in 40+1⁄3 innings.[7] In 2016, he pitched for the Peoria Chiefs, where he posted a 10–2 record with a 1.61 ERA in 17 starts and was named a Midwest League All-Star.[8] Helsley started 2017 with the Palm Beach Cardinals and after going 8–2 with a 2.69 ERA in 17 games (16 starts), he was promoted to the Springfield Cardinals in July.[9] In six starts for Springfield, he was 3–1 with a 2.67 ERA.[10] He also made one start for the Memphis Redbirds at the end of the season.[11] Following the season, he was named the Florida State League Pitcher of the Year.[12][13] Helsley began 2018 with Springfield and was promoted to Memphis during the season. However, shoulder fatigue ended his season in June.[14] In seven starts for Springfield he was 3–2 with a 4.39 ERA, and in five starts for Memphis he pitched to a 2–1 record and a 3.71 ERA.[15] The Cardinals added Helsley to their 40-man roster after the 2018 season.[16]

Helsley began 2019 back with Memphis.[17] On April 16, he was called up to the major leagues for the first time.[18] He made his debut that night, throwing two and a third innings in relief and recording a single in his first major league at bat.[19] Helsley was placed on the injured list on June 13 with right shoulder impingement,[20] and was reassigned to Memphis following his activation on July 3. Helsley was recalled for the final time on August 4, spending the remainder of his 2019 regular season in St. Louis' bullpen. Over 36+2⁄3 relief innings with the Cardinals, Helsley went 2–0 with a 2.95 ERA, striking out 32.[21] In that year's postseason, Helsley pitched 5+1⁄3 innings with no earned runs and 8 strikeouts.

Helsley began the 2020 season with St. Louis. On August 7, it was announced he had tested positive for COVID-19.[22] Helsley finished the pandemic-shortened season with a 1–1 record, 5.25 ERA and one save in 12 innings of work.[23] In 2021, Helsley appeared in 51 games with the Cardinals in which he went 6-4 with a 4.56 ERA and 47 strikeouts over 47+1⁄3 innings before he was shut down in mid-August with knee and elbow injures.[24]

In 2022, Helsley compiled a first-half 5–1 record with a 0.73 ERA, 54 strikeouts, and seven saves over 37 innings, and was consequently selected to represent the Cardinals at the All-Star Game in Los Angeles.[25] On September 16, Helsley pitched an immaculate inning against the Cincinnati Reds striking out Kyle Farmer, Jake Fraley, and Donovan Solano in the ninth inning.[26] Helsley finished the 2022 season with 54 relief appearances in which he went 9-1 with a 1.25 ERA, 94 strikeouts, and 19 saves over 64+2⁄3 innings.[27] In the post-season, Helsley, who had jammed fingers on his throwing hand in his final regular-season appearance, was the loser in Game 1 of the 2022 National League Wild Card Series, allowing a single, two walks, and a hit batter in successive 9th-inning plate appearances for four earned runs in a game the Philadelphia Phillies won 6-3.[28]

Helsley began the 2023 season in St. Louis' bullpen, and logged a 3.24 ERA in 22 appearances before he was placed on the injured list with a right forearm strain on June 12, 2023.[29] He was transferred to the 60–day injured list on July 24.[30] Helsley was activated on September 1.[31]

Personal life

Helsley is a Christian.[32] Helsley and his wife, Alex, married in July 2021.[33] Their first child, a daughter, was born in August 2022.[34]

Helsley is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation[35] and has some ability to speak the Cherokee language.[36] He grew up a Cardinals fan.[37]

References
  1. "Sequoyah, NSU ex Ryan Helsley gets name called to Cards | Sports". muskogeephoenix.com. April 16, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  2. Air 9:55PM (March 12, 2018). "Cardinals prospect Ryan Helsley literally has a tribe supporting him". ksdk.com. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  3. Johnson, Ben (May 24, 2013). "Helsley hauls in honors | High School Sports". tahlequahdailypress.com. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  4. "Helsley Honored as MIAA Freshman of the Year". Goriverhawksgo.com (Press release). Northeastern State University. May 8, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  5. "Cardinals selected Northeastern State's Ryan Helsley in 2015 MLB Draft". Oklahoman.com. June 9, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  6. Hollingsworth, Dillon (June 10, 2015). "Northeastern State's Ryan Helsley one of seven Oklahoma players to go on Day 2 of MLB Draft". TulsaWorld.com. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  7. Dave Eminian. "Chiefs Helsley celebrates his Cherokee Indian heritage; Alcantara strikes out 14 but Peoria loses, 5-4 - Sports - Journal Star - Peoria, IL". Pjstar.com. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  8. Dave Eminian (June 7, 2016). "Chiefs land five players on MWL Western Division All-Star team - Sports - Journal Star - Peoria, IL". Pjstar.com. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  9. Porter, Jared (August 1, 2017). "Report: Helsley promoted to Double-A Springfield | Sports". tahlequahdailypress.com. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  10. "Ryan Helsley Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  11. Forde, Mitchell (July 23, 2017). "Minor league report: Helsley's success continues as confidence grows | St. Louis Cardinals". stltoday.com. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  12. "Sports". Tcpalm.com. September 7, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  13. "Ryan Helsley Tabbed as FSL Pitcher of the Year | Cardinals". Milb.com. August 28, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  14. RotoWire Staff (June 12, 2018). "Cardinals' Ryan Helsley: Dealing with shoulder fatigue at Memphis". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  15. "Ryan Helsley Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  16. "Cardinals add four players to 40-man roster". MLB.com. November 20, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  17. "Palm Beach Cardinals release 2019 roster".
  18. "Ryan Helsley promoted to majors by St. Louis Cardinals". Tahlequah Daily Press. April 16, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  19. "St. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 16, 2019". Baseball Reference. April 17, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  20. FOX Sports Midwest (June 13, 2019). "Cards place Helsley on 10-day IL, recall Cabrera from Redbirds". FOX Sports. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  21. "RYAN HELSLEY, Relief Pitcher".
  22. "Cardinals' Ryan Helsley: Among positive COVID-19 cases".
  23. "Exit Interview 2020: Ryan Helsley". November 13, 2020.
  24. "Ryan Helsley | | stltoday.com".
  25. "Cardinals' Nolan Arenado, Ryan Helsley named to NL All-Star team". July 10, 2022.
  26. "FOX Sports News, Scores, Schedules, Odds, Shows, Streams & Videos".
  27. "Ryan Helsley Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  28. "Phillies 6, Cardinals 3 Final Score (10/07/2022) on MLB Gameday". MLB.com. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  29. "Cardinals' Ryan Helsley: Heads to IL with forearm strain". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  30. "Cardinals' Ryan Helsley: Moved to 60-day IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  31. "Cardinals' Ryan Helsley: Activated from injured list". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  32. Kruse, Ethan (March 30, 2021). "Ryan Helsley - Walking Daily". His Huddle. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  33. "Cardinals players' significant others react to being back at Busch Stadium".
  34. "Ryan Helsley on Instagram: "What an eventful week! Added another Helsley to the family and celebrated another trip around the sun! #GodIsGood #thankfulgratefulblessed"".
  35. "Chiefs' Helsley Pitches for His People". Centralillinoisproud.com. April 27, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  36. Goold, Derrick. "'All eyes on Helsley' as Cardinals pitcher represents family, town, Cherokee Nation". STLtoday.com. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  37. Rodney Harwood. "A Proud Cherokee Family with An Ace: St. Louis Cardinals' Pitcher Ryan Helsley". Newsmaven.io. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
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