When Michael Helman ’15 looks back on the journey that led him from the baseball diamond at Pius X High School to the Major Leagues with the Texas Rangers, one word comes to mind: blessed.
Now living in Bryan, Texas, with his wife, Allie, and two children, Michael reflects with gratitude on how his faith, family, and Pius X education shaped the person and player he is today. “I met my wife while I was at Texas A&M, and we got married in 2021,” he said. “We were blessed with our first child, Beckham, in 2023, born on the Fourth of July.” In October of 2025, right off the heels of a memorable run with the Rangers, Michael and Allie welcomed a baby girl, Gemma Grace.
Michael reflected about life in Texas, calling himself an “Aggie for life,” though he added he “still bleeds Husker red.” His roots in Lincoln and at Pius X remain an essential part of who he is.
During his years at Pius X, Michael found mentors who not only shaped his baseball skills but also instilled values that continue to guide him. “PJ Book and Troy Charf are the two people who immediately come to mind,” he said. “They not only taught me how to do every little thing right in the game of baseball, but they also taught me how to do every little thing the right way in life. I don’t even know if they realize what a huge impact they’ve had on me, but I’m eternally grateful.”
It’s been ten years since Helman graduated from Pius X, and he admits that milestone “makes me feel so old.” Still, he remembers his high school days vividly: Friday night football games, basketball crowds, and the unmistakable spirit of community. “Some of my favorite memories were going to football and basketball games and supporting everyone else in my class,” he said. “It made it feel like we were just one big family.”
Two baseball state championships stand out among his favorite moments, but so do the spiritual experiences that grounded his time at Pius X. “We were so blessed to have the chapel, to have Mass and confessions right at school,” he said. “That’s one of the things that truly helped shape my faith and my life.” Michael also recalls attending SEEK, a Catholic conference that had just opened to high school students at the time. “If you’ve never gone, I highly suggest it,” he said.
That faith foundation became even more important as Michael navigated the challenges of professional baseball. His journey to the Major Leagues has been marked by hard work, injuries, and moments of doubt, but through it all, his trust in God deepened. “I’ve been asked about my injuries probably a hundred times,” he said, “but nobody has really asked me how my faith played a role in it. I’ll always tell anyone who asks that I am truly blessed and grateful.”
Helman describes how repeated setbacks tested his patience and perspective. “Every time I felt like I was inching closer and closer to the Big Leagues, I had some sort of injury that set me further away,” he explained. “And almost every time I was healthy the entire year, I felt like I underperformed and didn’t deserve the opportunity anyway. But God has blessed me with this amazing talent to play baseball, and He’s also blessed me with the struggles that made me lean on Him and trust His plan even more.”
That outlook has transformed his approach to both baseball and life. “As a professional athlete, it’s easy to forget all the things you’ve been blessed with,” he said. “I feel like I’ve grown even more in my prayer life over the last few years because I’ve realized that not only is my career hard, but so is life. The only way to get through the difficulties is through Him and constantly having Him at your side.”
For current Pius X students chasing big dreams, whether in sports, the arts, or other fields, Helman’s advice is simple but powerful: work hard and trust God. “Work hard every single day, even if it’s difficult, and trust the Lord with everything you have,” he said. “There’s a Benedictine saying, ’Ora et Labora,’ which means ’pray and work.’ Fr. Mike Schmitz says to ’pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on you.’ That message has really stuck with me.”
“I was lucky to know Michael as a player and student – he has always been rooted in his faith,” says Pius X CAO Jeremy Ekeler. “He comes from a great family where success is defined based on who you are in God’s eyes and no one else’s. As I’ve told so many in the community, Michael is a model Thunderbolt because his life is ordered to our very motto: Restore All Things in Christ.”
Despite the highlights of his baseball career, from high school championships to playing in the Big Leagues, Michael’s proudest role isn’t on the field. “Nothing beats being a husband and a father,” he said. “No matter what happens throughout the day, whether it was a good day or bad day, I get to come home and be dad. My son doesn’t care if I had a great game or not, he just wants me to play, play, play. It’s truly an absolute blessing.”
For Michael Helman, success isn’t measured in stats or scoreboards, but in gratitude for his family, his faith, and the community that helped him become the man he is today.
Photo Captions:
Top: Michael ’15 and Allie Helman, and their son, Beckham.
Bottom: Twin brothers, Michael and Evan Helman ’15, celebrate a state championship together.
