It was a big first for both Michael Helman and the Texas Rangers.
In Monday’s series opener vs. the Brewers, currently the team with the best record in baseball, Helman gave the Rangers a 4-0 lead with one swing of the bat, drilling a line-drive grand slam into the left field seats at Globe Life Park in Arlington.
It was both the 29-year-old rookie Helman’s first career grand slam, and the first grand slam the Rangers have hit in the 2025 season. Only the Royals and the Cardinals are without a grand slam.
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The inning began in fortuitous fashion for the Rangers after Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn dropped a Jake Burger foul pop, extending Burger’s at-bat. He’d eventually walk, which after a double by Kyle Higashioka and another walk by Jonah Heim, loaded the bases for Helman.
Helman would later add an RBI double, bringing his total count to five and extending the Rangers lead.
Originally a waiver claim by the Rangers in May, Helman was called up in late June and has remained with the big league club since. In 52 at-bats across 20 games, Helman is batting .229/.302/.844 with four home runs and 14 RBIs.
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