Michael James Helman (born May 23, 1996) is an American professional baseball infielder and outfielder for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB).
| Michael Helman | |
|---|---|
 Helman with the St. Paul Saints in 2022 | |
| Minnesota Twins – No. 92 | |
| Infielder / Outfielder | |
| Born: May 23, 1996 Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 3, 2024, for the Minnesota Twins | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Batting average | .300 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 0 |
| Teams | |
| |
Amateur career
editHelman 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.[1] 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.[2][3] 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.[4][5]
Professional career
editHelman was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 11th round, with the 334th overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] Helman did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]
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.[10] He opened the 2022 season with the Double–A Wichita Wind Surge before he was promoted to the Triple–A St. Paul Saints.[11] Over 135 games between the two clubs, he slashed .258/.337/.423 with twenty home runs, sixty RBI, and forty stolen bases.[12] 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.[13]
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.[14]
Personal life
editHelman's cousin, Joel Makovicka, played in the NFL.[15]
References
edit- ^ "Helman's versatility benefiting HCC, Monarchs".
- ^ "Pius X grad Helman ready for bigger stage". July 5, 2017.
- ^ "Pius X grad Helman named NJCAA player of the year". June 28, 2017.
- ^ "Minnesota Twins 2018 MLB draft pick capsules".
- ^ "Helman inks with Twins before deadline; all Aggies now signed".
- ^ "Lincoln Pius grad Michael Helman drafted by Twins". June 7, 2018.
- ^ "Helman signs with Twins ending A&M baseball career". July 7, 2018.
- ^ "Lewis, Larnach Headline Opening Day Roster".
- ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
- ^ "Cedar Rapids Kernels prepared to take on behemoth Quad Cities".
- ^ "Former Pius X star Helman is one step away from the big leagues, but his pro journey threw a curve". June 11, 2022.
- ^ "Michael Helman Stats, Fantasy & News".
- ^ "Twins' Michael Helman: Back from injured list". CBSSports.com. September 5, 2023.
- ^ "Twins Select Diego Castillo, Michael Helman; Activate Brooks Lee". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
- ^ "Michael Helman – Baseball".
External links
edit- Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Texas A&M Aggies bio