Michael

Helman

Osuna and Helman come up short on bids to break camp in the big leagues with the Rangers going with Ezequiel Duran and Andrew McCutchen in reserve roles. Osuna got into 63 games as a rookie last year and has the look of a reserve outfielder. Helman is a gritty jack-of-all-trades utility specialist with plenty of defensive versatility. He should get another look in the near future.

It’s Helman’s first homer of the Cactus League season, and it came off James Kingsbury in the sixth inning. Helman was a nice surprise for the Rangers in 2025 with a .744 OPS in 99 at-bats, and he seems likely to be the fourth outfielder for Texas to open 2026.

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker told reporters Freeman will be shut down for at least the next month before resuming baseball activities. The versatile 25-year-old got into 36 games for Texas as a rookie last year and was in line to open the season in a bench role. His absence makes it much easier for someone like Sam Haggerty or Michael Helman to secure a spot on the club’s season-opening roster.

Where did this guy come from? The red-hot Helman put the exclamation point on the Rangers’ six-run first inning here with a two-out, two-run double to knock Mets’ starter Jonah Tong from the game. He now has a 1.036 OPS with four home runs, 15 RBI, and two stolen bases while playing incredible defense in center field in two weeks since becoming a full-time player.

Helman tagged Brewers’ starter Chad Patrick for a game-tying, 383-foot (101.5 mph EV) two-run blast in the fifth inning. The 29-year-old outfielder also drew a walk in the ballgame. He has done a nice job in his limited action for the Rangers this season, slashing .255/.333/.627 with five long balls, 17 RBI and three stolen bases in his first 58 plate appearances.

Helman also threw out Jackson Chourio as the youngster tried to tag up and take second on a flyout in the second. So, yeah, quite a game for the 29-year-old rookie. Helman’s slam off Jose Quintana was his fourth homer in 55 plate appearances this season. He figures to remain in the Texas lineup most of the time if Adolis García returns this weekend as hoped.

Helman victimized Angels’ left-hander Yusei Kikuchi for his 383-foot (102.9 mph EV) two-run shot in the second inning that extended the Rangers’ lead to 5-0. The versatile 29-year-old also struck out and grounded out to short in the ballgame. He’s now hitting .211 (4-for-19) with two homers, six RBI and one stolen base in his first 22 plate appearances with the Rangers this season.

The versatile 29-year-old will get another shot with the Rangers with Evan Carter (wrist) landing on the injured list on Friday. Helman has gone 2-for-11 (.182) with a homer, four RBI and a stolen base in his limited action with the Rangers this season.

Helman has made a couple flashy plays from a power/speed standpoint, but there simply isn’t room for him on Texas’ bench with veteran Joc Pederson back from the injured list to occupy the DH slot. The 29-year-old’s defensive versatility should help him carve out a role as a reserve somewhere down the line.

He also had a sac fly in the 7-2 win. Helman, just recalled before the game, collected the homer in his 19th major league plate appearance; he was 3-for-10 with the Twins last season and 2-for-6 during an earlier stint with the Rangers this year. He figures to be limited to starts against lefties for the most part,