Twins' Unexpected September Call-up Has a Chance to Earn a Major-League Future

[Greggory Masterson]

September call-ups provide a moment for minor leaguers to seize everything they ever wanted. Will this one capture it, or just let it slip?

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints

Ahead of Sunday’s September roster expansion—the day that MLB teams' active rosters move from 26 to 28 players—most expected the Twins’ lone hitting addition to be the rehabbing prospect, Brooks Lee. Lee was, indeed, activated from his rehab stint in Triple-A, but an unexpected second move was made, too: the Twins selected the contract of Michael Helman.

Helman, an 11th-round draft pick out of Texas A&M in 2018, probably can’t be labeled a prospect anymore, as he turned 28 in May. Even as a prospect, he rarely cracked organizational top-30 lists. He comes with little fanfare. However, he has a tremendous opportunity in front of him.

Helman was selected to replace injured platoon outfielder Manuel Margot. Without a Margot injury, we probably wouldn’t see Helman, but opportunities are hard to come by when you’re a 28-year-old in his third year at Triple-A. Helman has hit well this season, carrying the fourth-highest OPS on St. Paul’s squad at .876. He’s been about 25 percent better than an average hitter in the International League over the past two seasons.

This trip may be a standard cup of coffee for a minor-league veteran—something of a “thank you” from the organization. Byron Buxton’s return from injury may be imminent, which would jeopardize Helman’s spot. Still, Helman should have some opportunity to make an impression on the big-league club.

It’s vital for any player in the same archetype as Helman (middle-round draft pick with little prospect pedigree, now in his late 20s) to do so. However, Helman is precisely positioned to have a shot at a big-league role in Minnesota next season.

We all know the current payroll situation. There are no signs of it improving this offseason, and with the contracts on the books for 2025 already projected to exceed the 2024 payroll, it’s hard to see the front office being permitted to throw much money around. Most (read: all, including the players affected) expect the club to decline team options on Margot and platoon infielder Kyle Farmer, among other cost-saving measures.

Margot and Farmer's all-but-certain departures are especially pertinent to a player like Helman. Helman is right-handed, like those two, and he has been playing shortstop, third base, second base, center field, and left field in St. Paul. Those five positions combine for 79 percent of Margot and Farmer’s innings (with the remaining 21% being Margot’s 220 innings in right field).

It’s debatable exactly how well Helman can play those positions, but that flexibility is valuable for a player whose best-case scenario is that of a utilityman. And the Twins are a club that loves righty bench players who can fill the weak side of a platoon. Add his speed into Helman’s profile (he’s stolen bases with an 81 percent success rate), and he can provide value in a number of different ways.

His .875 OPS in the hitter-friendly International League doesn’t guarantee success, but if he can hit lefties competently, he could be an option for Minnesota in 2025 and beyond as a platoon bat. This season, he’s been worse against lefties than righties, but he’s historically hit marginally better against southpaws. Reverse splits for hitters are rare, and it's very unlikely that Helman is such a player.

The unfortunate truth for Helman is just how limited this opportunity is. Next season, he’ll be 29. He has no standout tool, though his speed is respectable. He has internal competition for this hypothetical righty utility player spot, too. You don’t need to look further than Austin Martin, another speedy youngster who can play in the outfield and on the dirt.

Helman is slower than Martin, and there’s less confidence in the 28-year-old’s bat, though Helman possesses more skill in the field and positional flexibility. He’s also three years older than Martin. Beyond that, this cup of coffee may only last days, as the return of Byron Buxton or Carlos Correa likely squeeze Helman out of work, assuming no other injuries manifest (then again: who are we kidding?).

However, this is his moment. The next one isn’t guaranteed. If Helman impresses in any way whatsoever over the next month of baseball, his future can be drastically changed. Twenty-eight-year-old minor leaguers are often on the chopping block over the offseason, as players are taken off the 60-day injured list, get protected ahead of the Rule 5 Draft, or are otherwise acquired by the organization. When the team is trying to reduce payroll, though, that pressure tends to lighten a bit.

There is a role for Helman to step into next year, amid the loss of veteran role players and a limited budget. It’s the perfect storm for Helman to latch on to a major-league job, if even for a season or two. Is it likely? Probably not. He’s thus far avoided the Drew Maggi-Moonlight Graham treatment as he’s in the lineup for Tuesday night’s game. It’s a chance, for a man who’s worked his keister off to get this far.

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[Aerodeliria]

Amen!

[D.C Twins]

I suspect that he will miss his chance to blow.... (with this... well you know.... opportunity that comes once in a lifetime....)

[DocBauer]

Martin hasn't exactly set the world on fire to this point. And there's potentially room for both in 2025, depending on various performance and $ scenarios. 

Hoping for the best in his opportunity. 

[Mike Sixel]

Not a fan of him in the majors too start next year. aAA and see what happens.

[Linus]

If Helman ends up on this roster next year the FO should be fired. 

[Mark G]

Simon Cowell always says "2 minutes can change your life".  Maybe this is Helman's proverbial 2 minutes.  I hope he makes the most of it.  

[Road trip]

Organizational depth is the most likely outcome for him.  Next year I suspect he starts in AAA yet again.  We know, beyond any doubt, that the Twins will suffer multiple injuries again next year.  That's just the nature of MLB in this era.  When that happens it is possible that Helman gets a call next summer.  Most likely its just another couple of weeks with the big club... but you never know.  

[LambchoP]

He's a AAA injury insurance type of player. This organization really values these utility type guys who can play multiple positions. Sure, it is nice to have that versatility. The problem is, when playing that many positions, rarely do these players play any of them exceptionally well. Passable at best. I'm glad Helman got his shot finally, but when Buck gets activated this weekend I think that'll be it for him, unless Kepler goes on the IL now. I still would have rather gotten a look at Keirsey to see if his success in St Paul this year would translate to the big leagues.

[Twins GFP]

13 hours ago, Linus said:

If Helman ends up on this roster next year the FO should be fired. 

Not the FO fault.

Get ready for a stream of AAAA guys next year.  Further payroll reductions are a-coming!!

[KBJ1]

He is the proverbial "player to be named lateŕ" trade candidate.

I was surprised he made an errant throw, but being new to the field can do that. I hope he does well, we could use it. Kiersay & Rodriguez will be in the mix next year.

[farmerguychris]

15 hours ago, Linus said:

If Helman ends up on this roster next year the FO should be fired. 

Why?  Because ownership is requiring them to have a scrubs and stars type of team due to the contracts on the books and the payroll limits?  How is this on the FO?

I predict this team will be Lopez, Buxton, Correa and a bunch of min salary players within a couple of years to 'right size the payroll'.  Sucks - but just what I anticipate.

[USAFChief]

If I were a betting man, and I am, I'd bet Helman won't make it through the weekend on the 26 man roster nor make it through November on the 40 man. 

 

[Linus]

20 minutes ago, farmerguychris said:

Why?  Because ownership is requiring them to have a scrubs and stars type of team due to the contracts on the books and the payroll limits?  How is this on the FO?

I predict this team will be Lopez, Buxton, Correa and a bunch of min salary players within a couple of years to 'right size the payroll'.  Sucks - but just what I anticipate.

Regardless of payroll the FO can easily do better than a will be 29 year old AAAA player. If they can’t they shouldn’t be in a MLB front office. 

[Twins GFP]

1 hour ago, Linus said:

Regardless of payroll the FO can easily do better than a will be 29 year old AAAA player. If they can’t they shouldn’t be in a MLB front office. 

I would be interested to hear your opinion on exactly how the FO should find a player better than AAAA at this point in the season without being allowed to spend any money...

[Linus]

12 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

I would be interested to hear your opinion on exactly how the FO should find a player better than AAAA at this point in the season without being allowed to spend any money...

My original comment stated if he is on the MLB roster next year. 

[Twins GFP]

3 hours ago, Linus said:

My original comment stated if he is on the MLB roster next year. 

Apologies, I missed that...

However, the way things are progressing now, this roster will be littered with 4A players in the years to come.  Not because of supposed FO ineptitude, but because of ownership mandate.  No money to spend means you get the bottom of the barrel