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Helman passed through waivers unclaimed after being removed from Texas’ 40-man roster at the outset of the offseason. He figures to elect free agency to search for a new opportunity. The versatile 30-year-old makes sense in a bench role, but he doesn’t project as a viable everyday option at this stage of his career.

Helman provides the Rangers with a versatile bench option for the final week of the regular season as they cling to a one-game lead over the Astros for the AL West division title. The 30-year-old has been out since mid-June after suffering multiple hand fractures when he was hit by a pitch.

Nothing has changed in the prognosis for Helman, who is shelved with multiple hand fractures, this was done as a procedural move to clear a spot on the Rangers’ 40-man roster for the addition of Jarred Kelenic on Friday.

Helman suffered multiple fractures in his hand when he was hit by a 99-mph sinker from Tayron Guerrero on Saturday night. No word yet on how long he’ll need to be sidelined for. Alejandro Osuna was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move on Sunday.

Helman was drilled by a 99-mph sinker from Tayron Guerrero in the eighth inning and was replaced when the Rangers took the field in the bottom of the frame. He’ll officially land on the injured list prior to Sunday’s game and is likely to miss a significant amount of time while recovering.

Helman returns to the majors for the first time since last year when he got into a career-high 38 games for the Rangers, with Corey Seager hitting the injured list with back inflammation. The 29-year-old figures to occupy a bench role at the highest level.

It’s Helman’s first homer of the Cactus League season, and it came off James Kingsbury in the sixth inning. Helman was a nice surprise for the Rangers in 2025 with a .744 OPS in 99 at-bats, and he seems likely to be the fourth outfielder for Texas to open 2026.

Where did this guy come from? The red-hot Helman put the exclamation point on the Rangers’ six-run first inning here with a two-out, two-run double to knock Mets’ starter Jonah Tong from the game. He now has a 1.036 OPS with four home runs, 15 RBI, and two stolen bases while playing incredible defense in center field in two weeks since becoming a full-time player.