Rick Helling is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on December 15, 1970, in Devils Lake, North Dakota, and attended Stanford University, where he played college baseball.
Helling was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the first round of the 1992 MLB draft and made his debut with the team in 1994. He quickly established himself as a reliable starter, earning a spot in the rotation and finishing his rookie season with a 12-8 record and a 4.11 ERA.
Over the next few years, Helling continued to improve, posting a career-best 20-7 record in 1998 and earning his first All-Star selection. He also helped lead the Rangers to the playoffs that year, where they lost in the first round to the New York Yankees.
After spending six seasons with the Rangers, Helling became a free agent and signed with the Florida Marlins in 2003. He struggled in his first season with the team, finishing with a 12-12 record and a 5.17 ERA. However, he bounced back in 2004, going 13-9 with a 4.68 ERA and helping the Marlins win the World Series.
Helling spent the final two years of his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he struggled with injuries and saw his performance decline. He retired after the 2006 season with a career record of 93-81 and a 4.68 ERA.
Throughout his career, Helling was known for his durability and consistency as a starting pitcher. He pitched over 200 innings in six different seasons and finished with a winning record in eight of his 12 seasons. He also had a reputation as a fierce competitor and a leader in the clubhouse.
After retiring from baseball, Helling became involved in politics and served as a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019. He also worked as a baseball analyst for Fox Sports Southwest and as a pitching coach for the University of North Dakota.
Overall, Rick Helling had a successful career as a Major League Baseball pitcher, earning two All-Star selections and a World Series championship. He was a reliable starter who could be counted on to give his team a chance to win every time he took the mound.
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