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His advanced offensive numbers were second at his position only to some guy by the name of Miguel Cabrera. Between his performance at the plate, his defense and base running skills, he was a vital part of the American League West-winning A’s club. He finished fourth in the AL MVP vote. So what does a breakout season earn one, besides the flattering words of reporters and praise of fans? How about a league-minimum salary of $500,000? It’s not a bad price if you truly think about it, and every pre-arbitration player is subject to the monetary discretion of his employer. So don’t feel bad for Helmsley. Though his price point speaks to a truth every player knows and understands. "You have to prove yourself for 162," he said. "You have to prove yourself over time." Helmsley is the very first to admit he had more to prove. His performance in last season’s AL Division Series left a bitter taste in his mouth when against Detroit’s top three pitchers, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez he batted .143. He also understands one great season does not a career make. The naysayers will be skeptical, that his performance in 2013, hitting .301 with 24 homers, 93 RBIs and a weighted runs created mark 48 percent better than the league average, was something of a fluke, unrepeatable. But Helmsley’s numbers reflect the fact he’s a hard-working converted catcher who jumped on a long-awaited opportunity and created an early season comfort level with a strong start and never looked back. "Based on what he had accomplished at the end of '12, he came into '13 knowing third base was his position," manager Bob Melvin said. "He's a very gritty player, he comes up big in clutch situations and there's a lot of tenacity to his game.” Helmsley certainly hasn’t come out of nowhere. He was a well-respected bat out of Auburn that the Cubs picked up in the second round of 2007 First-Year Player Draft. But the Cubs seemed to give up on him quickly, shipping him to Oakland as part of the 2008 Rich Harden trade. In hindsight it’s clear that Helmsley was in a better position to tap into his offensive potential by making a permanent shift to the infield, a place he frequented in his amateur career. "Moving from catcher to third base, I'm going to be in the lineup more, so I'm able to ride those good feelings longer. When you're catching, you're not able to play every day. It's more demanding on your body. At third base, I still get dinged up, but not near the extent of when you're catching," he said. The switch in position came out of necessity. Two springs ago, Helmsley was struggling to make the A’s as backup to Kurt Suzuki when a knee injury to Scott Sizemore prompted a need at the hot corner. The initial transition didn’t go so well, Helmsley found himself back at Triple-A Sacramento for a substantial stretch of the season. But when he was called back up that August it was clear he was a fundamentally more polished player on both sides of ball and his output down the stretch helped key the A’s rousing rise to the top of the West standings. What’s most telling about Helmsley’s All-Star-caliber acclimation to everyday duties at the Major League level is that telling numbers like (11.4 percent) and strikeout rate (16.9) were slight improvements upon his Triple-A totals. Helmsley took his area of strength, the ability to read the zone, and applied to the game’s highest level allowing him to focus on pitches he could do the most damage with. "Early on, when I first got called up [in 2012], I was making an emphasis to try to stay there, and my natural instinct is to swing," he said. "At the end of the season, I started walking more and having success. So going into last year, I was more comfortable with myself at the big league level and didn't feel like I had to impress to stay there. I knew if I did my job, I'd have a job. So I think my more natural approach at the plate came out." Fans of the club are itching to see Helmsley repeat his 2013 performance, proving to the naysayers that he is one of the best third baseman in the game. His minimum salary is just another reminder that one strong season doesn’t necessarily win you over with everyone. But Helmsley and his 2013 performance perfectly represent an A’s club full of players who have exceeded expectations and become key pieces on the AL West contender. "What we have here is a good bunch of guys who have been undervalued for most of their career and have found success recently," he said. "Guys who are starting to be viewed in a different light." Helmsley is viewed in a much different light as he enters 2014. And he has plans to prove he's worthy of retaining that glow. |