Ryan Helsley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ryan Helsley |
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Helsley with the Cardinals in 2024
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| St. Louis Cardinals – No. 56 | |||
| Pitcher | |||
| Born: July 18, 1994 Tahlequah, Oklahoma, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 16, 2019, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| MLB statistics (through July 13, 2025) |
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| Win–loss record | 31–15 | ||
| Earned run average | 2.70 | ||
| Strikeouts | 350 | ||
| Saves | 103 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Ryan Dalton Helsley, born on July 18, 1994, is an American professional baseball pitcher. He plays for the St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Ryan played college baseball at Northeastern State University. The Cardinals picked him in the 2015 MLB draft. He made his big league debut in 2019. In 2022, Ryan became the team's closer and was chosen as an All-Star. After the 2024 season, he won the NL Reliever of the Year award.
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Ryan's Early Baseball Days
Ryan Helsley went to Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He played many sports there, including baseball, basketball, and football. He also ran track.
After high school, Ryan went to Northeastern State University. He played college baseball there. In 2014, as a freshman, he had a good record of 7 wins and 4 losses. He was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year. The St. Louis Cardinals drafted him in 2015 after his second year.
Ryan's Professional Baseball Career
After signing with the Cardinals, Ryan started his professional career. In 2015, he played for the Johnson City Cardinals. He had a very low ERA (Earned Run Average) of 2.01.
In 2016, Ryan played for the Peoria Chiefs. He had an impressive record of 10 wins and 2 losses. He was named a Midwest League All-Star. The next year, 2017, he played for the Palm Beach Cardinals. He then moved up to the Springfield Cardinals. He even made one start for the Memphis Redbirds. He was named the Florida State League Pitcher of the Year.
Ryan started 2018 with Springfield and was promoted to Memphis. However, his season ended early due to shoulder fatigue. The Cardinals added him to their main roster after the 2018 season.
Making it to the Major Leagues
Ryan started 2019 with Memphis again. On April 16, he was called up to the major leagues. He made his debut that night, pitching in relief. He even got a hit in his first time batting!
He had a great first season in the big leagues. He finished with a 2–0 record and a 2.95 ERA. He also struck out 32 batters. In the playoffs that year, he pitched well without giving up any runs.
In 2020, Ryan continued to play for St. Louis. The 2020 season was shorter due to the pandemic. In 2021, he played in 51 games for the Cardinals. He had a 6-4 record before injuries ended his season early.
Becoming an All-Star and Top Reliever
The year 2022 was a big one for Ryan. He had an amazing first half of the season. His ERA was very low, at 0.73. He was chosen to play in the All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
On September 16, Ryan pitched an immaculate inning. This means he struck out three batters on only nine pitches. He finished the 2022 season with a fantastic 9-1 record. He also had a 1.25 ERA and 19 saves.
In 2023, Ryan started the season strong. He had a 3.24 ERA in 22 games. However, he was placed on the injured list in June with a forearm strain. He returned to play in September.
In April 2024, Ryan was named the NL Reliever of the Month. He had 10 saves and a very low 1.69 ERA. On September 27, 2024, he set a new Cardinals record with his 49th save of the season.
For the entire 2024 season, Ryan played in 65 games. He had a 7-4 record with 49 saves and a 2.04 ERA. After the season, he was named the NL Reliever of the Year.
On June 28, 2025, Ryan recorded his 100th career save. This was against the Cleveland Guardians.
Ryan's Personal Life
Ryan Helsley is a Christian. He married his wife, Alex, in July 2021. Their daughter was born in August 2022.
Ryan is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He can speak some of the Cherokee language. He grew up as a big fan of the St. Louis Cardinals.
