Wes Helms
Encyclopedia
Wesley Ray Helms is an American
professional baseball
third baseman
, first baseman
, and outfielder
but is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed.
right out of high school in the 10th round of the amateur draft. He made his Major League
debut with the Braves in . On December 16, , he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
in exchange for proven reliever Ray King
. Helms played with Milwaukee for 3 seasons. He had a successful first season there hitting 23 home run
s and collecting 67 RBI
. He suffered a knee injury during a rain delay during a game in San Juan
, Puerto Rico
against the displaced Montreal Expos
. After a stint on the disabled list
, Helms struggled to regain his form and his playing time. He became the backup third baseman to Russell Branyan
.
On November 15, , he agreed to a contract in principle with the Philadelphia Phillies
to a two-year contract for approximately 5.5 million dollars, with a club option for a third year. Helms was designated for assignment by the Phillies on April 2, , and on April 5 was traded back to his old club, the Florida Marlins, for cash considerations with the Phillies paying all of Helms's 2008 salary and the Marlins covering Helms's 2009 option or buyout.
In Helms's 9 years of major league service, he has hit for a .262 batting average with 69 home runs.
On August 13, 2011, he was released by Florida. He signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves
on August 17. He was assigned to the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves
but was released on September 1.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
, and outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
but is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed.
Professional career
Wes Helms was drafted by the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
right out of high school in the 10th round of the amateur draft. He made his Major League
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
debut with the Braves in . On December 16, , he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in exchange for proven reliever Ray King
Ray King
Raymond Keith King is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher. King stands at 6'0" tall and weighs 265 pounds. Because of his large size, former Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog playfully referred to King as The Hefty Lefty...
. Helms played with Milwaukee for 3 seasons. He had a successful first season there hitting 23 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and collecting 67 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. He suffered a knee injury during a rain delay during a game in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
against the displaced Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. After a stint on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
, Helms struggled to regain his form and his playing time. He became the backup third baseman to Russell Branyan
Russell Branyan
Russell Oles Branyan is a Major League Baseball first baseman. He throws right-handed, bats left-handed, and primarily plays first base, but is capable of playing third base and the outfield. Branyan began his professional career in the Cleveland Indians minor league system...
.
On November 15, , he agreed to a contract in principle with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
to a two-year contract for approximately 5.5 million dollars, with a club option for a third year. Helms was designated for assignment by the Phillies on April 2, , and on April 5 was traded back to his old club, the Florida Marlins, for cash considerations with the Phillies paying all of Helms's 2008 salary and the Marlins covering Helms's 2009 option or buyout.
In Helms's 9 years of major league service, he has hit for a .262 batting average with 69 home runs.
On August 13, 2011, he was released by Florida. He signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
on August 17. He was assigned to the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves
Gwinnett Braves
The Gwinnett Braves are a minor league baseball team in the International League, the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Atlanta Braves. The team was previously the Richmond Braves for 43 seasons . On January 14, 2008, it was announced that the Richmond Braves would move from Richmond,...
but was released on September 1.