Ryan Helsley responded immediately when asked which was tougher: facing the high-powered Los Angeles Dodgers lineup or putting his 2 1/2-year-old daughter to bed at 10 p.m.
“Getting her to bed without a doubt,” he said, prompting laughter from the nearly 450 attendees at the Western Illinois Fellowship of Christian Athletes annual banquet on Sunday at John Wood Community College.
The highlight of the three-hour event was a Q&A session with the two-time All-Star and 2024 National League Reliever of the Year.
“Baseball is a sport of failure, and the Bible teaches us a lot about handling failure and navigating the ups and downs of life,” Helsley shared. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without my faith.”
Helsley, 30, spoke about how his faith influenced his upbringing in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where he has a twin brother and a younger brother. He also discussed how his faith continues to be a key part of his life with his wife, Alex, who is expecting their second child in early April.
Helsley, a hometown hero, chose to play college baseball at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, staying close to home. He was drafted by the Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2019.
“I wanted the kids there to have someone they could look up to,” he said. “I wanted them to know I walked those same halls, drove those same streets, and ate at those same restaurants.”
He also spoke about the Bible study group he and other Cardinals players would have on the road.
Coming off an All-Star season with 49 saves in 53 opportunities, a 7-4 record, and a 2.04 ERA, Helsley agreed to a one-year, $8.2 million contract with the Cardinals in January, avoiding arbitration and securing a $3.8 million raise. The Cardinals’ bullpen, a team strength, is intact for 2025.
“Relievers are a different breed, and we’ve got our own group down there,” Helsley said.
As his career rises and his family grows, Helsley attributes his success to his steadfast faith.
When asked what he would be doing if not a baseball player, he responded, “Honestly, all I ever wanted to be was a baseball player. I guess maybe I wish I could play an instrument?”
Helsley returned to St. Louis on Sunday evening to accept the St. Louis Baseball Writers of AmericaMan of the Year Award.
