Michael Helman

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #27 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: When Helman was in college, he was a grinding second baseman who starred at Hutchinson (Kan.) JC and Texas A&M. As a pro, he quickly learned to carry a lot more gloves in his bag. He's demonstrated the ability to plausibly play most everywhere while also showing a knack for making contact with some thump in his bat.
  
  Scouting Report: Helman's speed is arguably his best tool. He's a plus runner who is judiciously aggressive on the basepaths. The new pickoff and pitch clock rules have further boosted his base stealing value and he is a useful pinch runner. Defensively he's best in center field and at second base, but even at those spots, he's fringe-average at best. He played everywhere but catcher and right field in 2022, and he's playable in the big leagues at everywhere but those positions and shortstop.
  
  The Future: Helman is the kind of jack-of-all-trades who can find a way to carve out a useful role on a big league bench, especially now that teams are mandated to carry more position players. He's not good enough anywhere to be a regular, but he's competent at enough positions to fill-in most anywhere.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 45. Field: 40. Run: 60. Arm: 45.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #27 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: An undersized catcher growing up in Lincoln, Neb., Helman didn’t receive a single Division I offer out of high school. Moved to second base soon after arriving at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, the late bloomer hit .487 with 17 homers and 30 stolen bases as a sophomore to earn his way to Texas A&M.
  
  Scouting Report: After signing with the Twins for $220,000 as an 11th-rounder, Helman enjoyed a scorching first pro summer. Some see another Brian Dozier in Helman, who is a few inches taller than the former Twins second baseman. Helman could walk more but the Twins love his contact rate and barrel awareness. He shows more gap power than one would expect from his appearance. Helman thought the Rockies might take him as high as Round 3, but sliding out of the first 10 rounds just gave him more fuel for the long climb ahead. A fringe-average runner with an average arm, Helman should add power as he adds muscle. He lacks positional flexibility but some believe he could handle third if needed.
  
  The Future: Humble with strong makeup, Helman should open 2019 at high Class A Fort Myers.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #217 prospect in 2018 draft
  Helman made an immediate impact for the Aggies, as he stepped in as the team's second baseman and quickly became the Texas A&M leadoff hitter. He was leading the team in mid-May with a .365/.456/.521 slash line. Helman's best attributes as a hitter are his ability to grind out at-bats, as he works counts and has above-average hand-eye coordination. Helman is a plus runner who understands leads well enough to be a basestealing threat in pro ball (he's 11-for-13 on steals through mid-May). Defensively, he's a fringe-average second baseman who is just adequate there with modest range and hands and a fringe-average arm. But he makes the routine plays at second, has played third base when he was at Hutchinson (Kan.) JC and probably best fits in pro ball as a rangy center fielder. Helman's athleticism and his solid production makes him a useful day two pick who has some offensive potential and defensive versatility.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: When Helman was in college, he was a grinding second baseman who starred at Hutchinson (Kan.) JC and Texas A&M. As a pro, he quickly learned to carry a lot more gloves in his bag. He's demonstrated the ability to plausibly play most everywhere while also showing a knack for making contact with some thump in his bat.
  
  Scouting Report: Helman's speed is arguably his best tool. He's a plus runner who is judiciously aggressive on the basepaths. The new pickoff and pitch clock rules have further boosted his base stealing value and he is a useful pinch runner. Defensively he's best in center field and at second base, but even at those spots, he's fringe-average at best. He played everywhere but catcher and right field in 2022, and he's playable in the big leagues at everywhere but those positions and shortstop.
  
  The Future: Helman is the kind of jack-of-all-trades who can find a way to carve out a useful role on a big league bench, especially now that teams are mandated to carry more position players. He's not good enough anywhere to be a regular, but he's competent at enough positions to fill-in most anywhere.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 45. Field: 40. Run: 60. Arm: 45.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: When Helman was in college, he was a grinding second baseman who starred at Hutchinson (Kan.) JC and Texas A&M. As a pro, he quickly learned to carry a lot more gloves in his bag. He's demonstrated the ability to plausibly play most everywhere while also showing a knack for making contact with some thump in his bat.
  
  Scouting Report: Helman's speed is arguably his best tool. He's a plus runner who is judiciously aggressive on the basepaths. The new pickoff and pitch clock rules have further boosted his base stealing value and he is a useful pinch runner. Defensively he's best in center field and at second base, but even at those spots, he's fringe-average at best. He played everywhere but catcher and right field in 2022, and he's playable in the big leagues at everywhere but those positions and shortstop.
  
  The Future: Helman is the kind of jack-of-all-trades who can find a way to carve out a useful role on a big league bench, especially now that teams are mandated to carry more position players. He's not good enough anywhere to be a regular, but he's competent at enough positions to fill-in most anywhere.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 45. Field: 40. Run: 60. Arm: 45.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  August Update: Helman has played every position other than right field and catcher this year. Helman has improved his power to the point where he has a chance to post a 20-20 season this year. As a solid hitter at Triple-A who is playable at multiple positions, Helman may play his way into a big league career.