The Pittsburgh Pirates have claimed 28-year-old infielder/outfielder off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals, according to the team’s official X account.
To make room for Him on the 40-man roster, the Pirates transferred infielder Enmanuel Valdez from the 10-Day Injured List to the 60-Day IL. Valdez had seen significant action at first base in 31 games before being sidelined with a left shoulder injury.
He, a Texas A&M product, was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He remained with the Twins organization until he was traded to St. Louis this February for cash considerations. Helman saw brief MLB action with Minnesota last season, appearing in nine games and collecting three hits in ten at-bats.
In 2024, Helman played 72 games for Triple-A St. Paul, putting up a strong .271/.350/.487 slash line with 14 homers, 47 RBIs, and an .838 OPS. He also drew 29 walks and struck out 76 times. His last two seasons were limited by injuries — a dislocated left shoulder in 2023 and multiple hamstring strains this year.
Despite a solid 2023 campaign in Triple-A, Helman has struggled this year in limited action with Triple-A Memphis, tallying just 12 hits in 73 at-bats (.185/.260/.292, .553 OPS). He did hit his first home run of the season on Sunday, which he’ll look to build on as he likely joins Triple-A Indianapolis. The Pirates could certainly use any spark offensively.
Pittsburgh’s lineup recently set a franchise record with 19 consecutive games scoring four runs or fewer, following another close, low-scoring loss to the New York Mets. This continued offensive slump has wasted stellar performances from pitchers Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller.
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Heading into Wednesday night, the Pirates ranked third in MLB with 20 quality starts, trailing only the Phillies (21) and Royals (23). Still, their lackluster offense and an unreliable bullpen have led to a dismal 14-29 record.
Manager Donnie Kelly might soon have some help on the way. Catcher/first baseman Endy Rodriguez began a rehab assignment in Triple-A Indianapolis. While Rodriguez had a slow start to the season, his return could be an upgrade over Henry Davis, who continues to struggle at the plate.
Additionally, second baseman Nick Gonzales (fractured ankle) and first baseman Spencer Horwitz (recovering from wrist surgery) are both in Indianapolis and expected to begin rehab assignments soon as well.
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