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Counting down the 20 most important Cardinals in 2023: #11 Ryan Helsley
The 20 most important Cardinals in 2023: #11 Ryan Helsley
The Redbird Rants writing staff has been counting down the 20 most important Cardinals for the 2023 season. We came up with these rankings by averaging out our individual rankings as a staff and came out with this top 20.
So far in the Redbird Rants countdown of the 20 most important Cardinals for the 2023 season, we have covered the following players.
Today we come to #11 on our list, Ryan Helsley
Helsley made his MLB debut back in 2019, flashing signs of someone who could be a quality arm in the bullpen for years to come with his 2.95 ERA in 36.2 innings of work. The strikeout stuff was not there for him yet (7.9 SO/9), but there was plenty of optimism to be had.
2020 and 2021 did not go well for Helsley, as over that stretch he had a 4.70 ERA and was giving up 1.39 WHIP during that stretch. But when 2022 began for the right-hander, things took a major change, for the better.
Helsley was named an All-Star and finished 12th in Cy Young voting after going 9-1 with a 1.95 ERA, 19 saves, 0.74 WHIP, and a 13.1 SO/9 over 64.2 innings of work. Helsley turned in one of the best reliever seasons in baseball and gave Oli Marmol a lethal weapon he could deploy at any moment of the game.
It's clear Helsley enters the year as one of the best relievers in baseball, but what makes him so important to this Cardinals' ballclub? Let's break that down.
Why is Ryan Helsley important for St. Louis in 2023?
Bullpens continue to increase in their importance in today's game, and having a stablizing force like Helsley goes a long way toward creating an elite relief core.
Helsley may be referred to as a closer by most people, but Marmol proved last year that he sees more value in utilizing Helsley as a "stopper", rather than solely in the 9th-inning role. If the middle of the order is coming up with a runner in scoring position in the 7th inning, Helsley is the guy to get the big outs.
While his 2022 season is likely unrepeatable, even something remotely close to it will ensure the Cardinals can hold down leads against their opponents and takes a ton of pressure off of their other relievers. With so many questions surrounding their pitching this season, the club cannot afford to have Heslely get injured or fall off a cliff performance-wise this season.
I find it interesting that the Cardinals considered trading Helsley this offseason, but based on his returns so far in Spring Training, I do not foresee any issues with Helsley's ability this year. If he remains healthy, expect Helsley to be one of the best relievers in baseball again this year, and spearhead a very underrated Cardinals' bullpen.
Next. Most important Cardinals of 2023: #12 Adam Wainwright. dark