REPORT: Faith plays major role in life of St. Louis Cardinals reliever Helsley
Ryan Helsley didn’t hesitate when asked which was more challenging: facing the star-studded 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,” Helsley said, sparking laughter from the nearly 450 attendees at the Western Illinois Fellowship of Christian Athletes annual banquet on Sunday at John Wood Community College.
The event featured a Q&A session with the St. Louis Cardinals’ two-time All-Star and 2024 National League Reliever of the Year, serving as the highlight of the three-hour program.
“Baseball is a sport of failure, and the Bible has a lot to teach us about navigating failure and the ups and downs of life,” Helsley shared. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without my faith.”
Helsley, 30, reflected on how faith shaped his upbringing in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where he grew up with a twin brother and a younger sibling. That faith remains central to his life with his wife Alex, who is expecting their second child in early April.
A hometown role model, Helsley chose to stay local for college, playing baseball at Northeastern State University. Drafted by the Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB Draft, he made his MLB debut in 2019.
“I stayed close to home because I wanted the kids there to have someone to look up to,” Helsley said. “I wanted them to see that I walked the same halls, drove the same streets, and ate at the same restaurants they did.”
Helsley also emphasized the importance of faith within his Cardinals team, mentioning the group Bible studies that players held during road trips.
Coming off an All-Star season with 49 saves in 53 opportunities, a 7-4 record, and a 2.04 ERA, Helsley avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $8.2 million contract in January—earning a $3.8 million raise. With the entire bullpen returning for 2025, Helsley praised his fellow relievers. “Relievers are a different breed, and we’ve got our own group down there,” he said.
As Helsley balances his rising career, family life, and faith, he credits his spiritual foundation for his success. When asked what he would do if not playing baseball, Helsley replied, “Honestly, all I ever wanted to be was a baseball player. Maybe I’d like to play an instrument?”
Helsley capped the day by returning to St. Louis to accept the St. Louis Baseball Writers of America Man of the Year Award.